Used correctly, props can add a tremendous amount of significance and variety to any presentation and help ensure that your message is received and understood. And that’s what public speaking is all about.
Vary your presentation - use audio visual props such as flipcharts, PowerPoint presentations, pass out handouts for your audience to read, use different intonations of voice - speak louder or softer - don’t make the mistake of using a monotone. Move around the stage (within reason - you’re not up there to give a Chorus Line review.)
Come into the room with the attitude that you’re simply having a conversation with a roomful of friends - you’re going to tell them a story about … whatever your speech is about. If you’ve researched your topic, know your material and practiced what you’re going to say, you’ll find it easy to have this mindset.
The single best way to avoid all that public speaking terror is to know your material. Be familiar with your subject, and you’ll relax. If you know your subject, if you’re the expert in the room - why on earth would your audience scare you? What is there to be frightened of if you know your topic more thoroughly than they do? You’re there to teach them what you know about a particular subject or topic.
Your personal style and the subject matter of your speech should dictate the types of props you can use. For example, don’t use a humorous prop with a serious subject. Props can be simple or complex – they don’t have to be elaborate – the key to using an effective prop is that it should help convey your message – no more, no less.
Some speakers find it easy to use props to help keep them on track with what they want to say during their presentation. For example, I know one man who wears a different hat for each segment of his speech – he changes the hat and replaces it with another when he goes to the next segment. The hats remind him of key points to cover in each portion of his speech.
Identify your message - your message needs to be clear – what is it that you want people to do? Sleep more? Take better care of themselves? Be kind to one another? What makes your message special? How does your message stand out from the crowd?
Identify an action plan – you need to explain to your audience – in precise detail – how your audience can succeed at what you’re inspiring them to do. They need a roadmap for success.
The dislike or loathing of public speaking stems from fear - the single biggest fear people seem to have is that they’re going to make complete idiots of themselves in front of a live audience. Or maybe that they’ll forget their lines. Or the audience will start throwing rotten tomatoes at them. Or perhaps they’ll pass out in front of all those people. I’ve seen many public speakers forget their lines, or lose their place in their speech, but I’ve never seen anyone pass out.