Now today we have a new speech tip for you, and this one relates mostly to public speaking. The audience can smell confidence…or lack thereof…so confidence is key to any public speech. One of the starting points for confidence is, oddly enough, with your feet. When you consciously decide to “plant your feet” and to stay in one position, you eliminate unnecessary distractions to yourself and are able to focus better on what you are saying and how you are saying it.
If you are constantly shifting your weight from one foot to the other or if you try to walk around the dance floor with a wireless mic, it might seem more helpful for you to stay focused but in the long run it can be distracting to yourself because you lose your thoughts too quickly by “walking away” from them. Also, by standing in one spot, this will help the cameras focus on you more intently…focus meaning having a sharp image. If you’re constantly walking closer and farther from the camera you may come out fuzzy on the final video. Lastly, whether or not you’re nervous, it may appear to the audience that you are because you can’t have the confidence to stay in one spot.
So practice at home. Say your speech out loud to yourself or in front of another person, and practice staying in one position with your feet firmly planted on the floor. It may be tricky at first, but it is well worth it. Jeremy and Amy had some excellent speakers at their wedding who not only had great content but also great public speaking skills. Watch their wedding highlight video and see how by planting your feet firmly and resolving to stay in one spot helps each speaker gain and maintain confidence.