About the Topic

Despite all the stress that many people feel when faced with the task of speaking in public, it can be much easier than imagined as long as the speaker is prepared. Sufficient preparation, whether the speaker is a first-timer or and “old pro” is one of the most important aspects of reducing the stress of having to make a public presentation, regardless of the size of one’s audience.

When speaking at a conference or for a professional group one is often expected to choose his or her own topic. As scary as this sounds, choosing your own topic is usually preferable to having one chosen for you or inheriting a topic from someone else.

If you are fortunate enough to be able to choose your own topic, then you should choose a subject that you know well and with which you are already familiar. It also helps to have some passion for the subject you will be speaking about. Provided your speech goes well, you may have an audience filled with comments or questions and it is important that you are able to answer to those.

Make sure that your topic is focused and manageable. Many first-time speakers make the mistake of choosing a topic that is too broad, which allows too much room for mistakes. Even though a broad topic may seem like a good idea to a new speaker, it can leave too much room to wander and lose your audience. A focused topic is a better choice because it is easier to talk about and keep the attention of your audience. A narrower topic is also easier to prepare for...which is very important for a nervous, first-time speaker.