Strategies to Succeed in Public Speaking

Health and the Public Speaker

by Lanie Smith

In your role as a public speaker, it is important that you are both physically and emotionally healthy. You can't do a good job at speaking, if you aren't functioning as you should. Being healthy makes you feel good and allows you to speak more effectively. You can maintain your health by taking care of yourself and avoiding toxic situations. 

Questions you may have include:

• What determines good health?
• Why is it important for a speaker?
• How can a public speaker maintain his or her health?

This lesson will try to answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz at the end of the lesson.

Good health

Health concerns both physical and emotional well-being.

Physical health

Being physically healthy means that your body is functioning as it should, without pain, discomfort, or lack of capabilities. The speaker's voice must also be healthy.

Causes of ill-health include injuries, disease, diet, stress, old-age and genetics. Sometimes a speaker will strain or damage his or her voice through excess or improper speaking. Smoking is not good for the voice, as well as the physical health in general.

Emotional health

Being emotionally or mentally healthy means that your mind and emotions are functioning as they should, without anxiety, depression, or other malfunctions. Areas of mental health concerning speakers include overblown egos, insecurities, excessive fears, anxiety about speaking, and lack of confidence.

Causes of mental ill-health include distorted attitudes, physical disease, stress, genetics and mental abuse.

Importance and benefits of good health

Having good health is important and beneficial to a speaker. Health is a necessity, so ill-health can prevent you from doing what you want in an effective manner or at all. Good health is necessary to effectively deliver a speech. You can't do well if you don't feel well.

Physical health

Being physically healthy is of prime importance in life. Being ill or not feeling well can drastically affect your ability to give a good speech. Obviously, if you feel physically and mentally healthy, you can be more productive, as well as more happy in your public speaking.

Speakers need to exhibit a vitality when they are in front of an audience. They must look and be healthy.

Emotional health

Emotional well-being is also important. Suffering stress, depression, anxiety or other mental or emotional ailments is not fun. Obviously, you would like your whole life to be happy and satisfying. It is important to be emotionally healthy in order to speak effectively.

In life

Public speaking is only one part of your life. You want to be able to enjoy all aspects of your life and to live a long, productive and enjoyable life. Being healthy will also allow you to gain knowledge and skills, do excellent work, be valuable to your audience, and be honorable to those with whom you deal.

Maintaining health

You must take care of yourself in order to maintain your physical and mental health.

Physical health

Physical health starts with a good diet and includes sufficient exercise as well a generally taking care of your health. Exercise is important not only for your health, but it also increases your energy and vitality and gives the subtle muscle tone that looks good to an audience. An out-of-shape speaker does not have the same credibility or appeal as one who looks fit.

Certainly, smoking should be avoided. Drinking alcohol or taking drugs are not only bad for your physical health, but they can result in a speaker looking and sounding like a fool. Giving speeches in smoky conference rooms used to be a major irritant to speakers who depend on their voice for a living. Fortunately, there is less smoking in conferences, but it still can be a health issue. 

You should also know how to deal with illness or injury by appropriate health care.

Emotional health

Maintaining emotional health is not as specific as maintaining physical health. Positive reinforcement is a way to keep the right mental attitude, as opposed to thinking of things in negative terms. You also want to avoid situations that cause excess stress, or if you are in such situations, to cope with it. For example, giving a speech to an important audience can be stressful, but excess worry is counterproductive. Good preparation and positive visualization can reduce the stress. Also, remember the adage: "Don't sweat the small stuff. Everything is small stuff."

Overreaction to criticism from members of the audience can cause a speaker's stomach to churn. It is good to take such criticisms in stride, consider the source of the criticism, and try to appropriately improve.

You should be aware of these problems and try to avoid negative situations. If you can't bear the negative atmosphere around you, seek to move on to a more healthy emotional environment.

In conclusion

You want to function properly both physically and mentally or emotionally. Unhealthy habits and stressful working conditions can affect your health, as well as your ability to speak. You should take care of your health and work environment, so that you can feel good and be productive.

Feel good every day

Mini-quiz to check your understanding

1. What can be an emotionally toxic environment for a speaker?

2. What benefits does a good exercise routine provide to a speaker?

3. How should your deal with criticism of your speech or speaking skills?

If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a champion in public speaking. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.

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