I just have to insert this vital sub-topic before we talk about the three tips. Fear of public speaking is a real fear. Fear of writing compelling copy is just as real. Note the following graph from the Washington Post back in 2014.

MY EXPERIENCES

In my role as a speaker and mentor, I have seen the fear of public speaking leave the toughest of men a jibbering mess. I've known tough tradesmen looking for the exit rather than speak in public.

Tony Wilson, from www.speakola.com suggests the following tips on how using humor can help overcome the fear of giving a speech, such as a best man speech:

1. Start with a nerve steadying joke about the location.

2. Recount a humorous how-we-met story about the groom.

KEY POINT #1:

Don't rely on Dutch courage to quell the fear of public speaking. One standard drink may help at a wedding but it won't cut it on other occasions. Instead, write out the speech in 16 point type and practise it a few times in front of the bathroom mirror. I am not kidding! The bathroom is a great place to practice your speech. I have effectively used it for years.

KEY POINT #2:

Let your spouse (the one who knows you best) listen to your practice sessions. She is listening to you from the audience's perspective and can provide constructive tips to develop fluency and overcome those nerves. This is the same as editing your post, reading and re-reading your copy before it is unleashed on the audience.

ANOTHER WAY TO BEAT THE FEAR!

Anett Grant is the CEO of Executive Speaking. Since 1979, Executive Speaking has pioneered breakthrough approaches to helping leaders from all over the world speak with precision and power. In a recent blog she wrote for www.quietrev.com, she gave, amongst others, the following tip to beat the fears associated with public speaking:

"Don’t write out your script

Another strategy for dealing with speaking anxiety is to stop writing out scripts for your presentations. You might think, “But wait! I need my script so that I don’t forget anything!” However, using a script can actually contribute to feelings of anxiety.

Of course, you need to practice what you’re going to say as much as possible. But don’t become too obsessive about remembering everything word for word. If you do, anxiety will set in the second you forget exactly how you phrased something the week or the night before. What word did I use again? Wait, did I just repeat myself? There’s only one point left, right? And so on. If the only way you can present effectively is by memorizing a script, you’re setting yourself up for an avalanche of anxiety if you forget something. The solution is to find a middle ground between rigidity and completely winging it. Be prepared with a general structure and key points to your presentation, but give yourself room to speak off the cuff too. When you stop obsessing over scripts, you’ll feel freer and less anxious."

I rarely use a manuscript for a talk. It is a basic outline that allows me to speak freely and extemporaneously. Practising your speech with outline nearby, can go a long way to reducing anxiety.

Naturally, you are going to write out your blog post. But an outline allows you to draw a skeleton of the ideas you want to present which can then be fleshed out with compelling material based on your research and experience. The outline gives structure, making the main points stand out.

So now that you have the fear under some sort of control, let's consider the 3 Tips for a Great Introduction: