Glossophobia — better known as a fear of public speaking — affects 74% of people, according to a National Institute of Mental Health survey. So it's no surprise the very thought of addressing large crowds causes so much stress, angst, and discomfort.

根据美国心理健康研究所调查显示，公开发言恐惧症(也就是对公开发言的恐惧)影响了74%的人。所以在大量人群前演讲会导致诸多紧张、焦虑、不安等情绪就不足为奇了。

In the past three decades, I've given more than 1,200 presentations to upward of a million people. Many say the ability to speak before large crowds is innate, but I'm not sure that's true.

在过去的30年，我给10万人做过1200多次演讲。许多人说在大量人群前演讲的能力是天生的，但我不能同意。

I didn't do much public speaking in the first 20 years of my life. Our school didn't encourage students to speak in front of crowds, so I graduated from high school and started university thinking I didn't possess the tools to connect with large audiences.

在20岁之前，我没做过多少公开演讲。我们学校没有鼓励学生在人群前发言，所以我在高中毕业开始上大学时并没有掌握与大量听众沟通的方法。

Like so many other things in life — including business acumen — speaking skills can betaught, enhanced, and perfected.

就像生活中的许多事(包括商业头脑)，演讲技能可以通过后天学习、提高、巩固。

Poor lines of communication or a bad presentation can lead to lost opportunities. Conversely, great public speaking skills can land you a new job or client, motivate your team, and even turn a bad situation around.

不善沟通或者缺乏演讲技巧可能会让你失去机会。相反的，良好的公开演讲技巧能帮你找到一份新工作或者结识新客户，激发团队积极性，甚至转变糟糕的局势。

Speak with purpose in the workplace

在工作场所带着目的演讲

In honing my public speaking skills, I've also significantly improved how I interact with my colleagues back in the office, mainly using these five tactics:

在磨练演讲技巧时，我也极大地提升了自己与同事之间相互沟通的技巧，主要用以下五种策略：

1. Map out the message

1. 设计好要传输的信息

Think through what you want to say and identify the two or three key messages you want listeners to retain. Then, put those into a logical sequence. Keep the message condensed and easily understandable. The way to get a message across at work is to narrow it as much as possible. The more focused it is, the better employees will grasp it.

仔细想想你要说什么，确定两到三个想让听众记住的关键信息点。然后，把这些信息形成逻辑。让这些信息简明扼要、易于理解。在工作中传达信息的方法是尽可能把它缩小。焦点越集中，员工越易于理解。

Your primary objective is to inform and educate the audience; to do this, focus on the content, but don't get too hung up on the delivery.

你的主要目的是告诉并教育听众要这样做，专注于你的内容，不要太在意演讲方式。

Craft agendas for all presentations, be they companywide announcements or one-on-one chats with colleagues. Charting a direction for your workplace communication ensures that your message will land. Create a road map for your talk by planning all the necessary stops along the way. It's that simple.

为所有的演讲制作议程，在公司范围内发布声明或是一一与同事沟通。为办公室内的沟通确立方向能保证信息有效落地。给你的讲话列好提纲，计划好所有的细节。这是很简单的。

2. Speak from the heart

2. 发自内心地演讲

Take possession of the room. People are giving you their time, so make it worth their while. It isn't enough just to know what you're talking about: You have to believe in it. Don't say "I wasn't planning on talking with you today" or that you didn't have time to prepare. Be humble, sincere, and controlled in your approach.

做这里的主人。人们给了你时间，要让他们感觉有价值。只了解你要讲什么是不够的：你必须相信它。别说“我没有打算今天谈话”或者没时间准备。要在演讲过程中做到谦虚、真诚、克制。

Don't conduct a word-by-word recitation of your speech. Connect with your audience through constant eye contact and vocal modulation that allows your emotion, commitment, and determination to naturally shine.

别把演讲弄成逐字逐句的背诵。通过不断的眼神交流以及声音调整与你的听众进行沟通，这会让你的情感、承诺和决心自然地流露。

Delivering a new officewide initiative with this type of fervor, for example, keys employees in to the fact that what you're saying needs to be retained.

把这种热情用在办公场所，比如，重要员工所说的话需要被保留。

3. Use visuals

3. 运用视觉化表达

Never underestimate the value of showing visual elements that reinforce your points. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, people remember 65% of information they retain through a combination of visual and oral communication.

永远别低估了运用视觉元素增强表现力的价值。根据美国劳工部的数据，人们通过视觉和口头交流的方式记住了65%的信息。

Display the graphs, videos, and images that best convey your message. Visuals bring your words to life and improve the chances that your message will be committed to memory.

通过图表、视频和图片能很好地传输你要表达的信息。视觉化能让你的语言更生动，使你的信息更容易被记忆。

4. Be prepared

4. 充分准备

I was very nervous the first time I spoke in front of a crowd. I felt unprepared and overwhelmed with the audience's perception of me and my speech. Though my recollection of the talk itself is sketchy, one impression sticks with me: I never wanted to feel that vulnerable in front of an audience again.

我第一次在公众前演讲时非常紧张。观众对我以及演讲的看法让我感到措手不及、倍受打击。虽然我对演讲本身的回忆不够清晰，但有一件事让我印象深刻：我再也不想在听众前如此脆弱了。

Never wing it. Develop your own style, and don't try to copy someone else's. Whether you're discussing a department overhaul, a new hire, or a change in company policy, know what you're talking about. Collect any and all relevant information and come in prepared. If you show confidence, your audience will feel it, too.

永远别临场发挥。形成自己的风格，别试图模仿别人。无论你是在讨论部门改革、新员工，还是公司政策变化，都要知道自己在说什么。收集所有相关信息，充分准备。如果你表现出自信，你的听众也会这么觉得。

5. Zone in

5. 融入其中

You've prepared the talk — now it's time to prepare the speaker. Don't stay out late the night before, drink too much, or eat unfamiliar foods. A good night's rest is invaluable and will transfer good energy into the presentation.

你已经准备好了演讲，现在是时候准备作为一个演讲者了。前一天晚上别在外面待到太晚，别喝多，也别吃陌生食品。晚上好好休息是很有必要的，会让你在演讲时精力充沛。

Dress appropriately, get to the venue on time, and ease into the surroundings. Feel comfortable with the stage, the room, and the audience. In the final hour before your talk, don't change a thing.

穿着得体，准时到达会场，轻松融入周围环境。熟悉舞台、房间以及听众。在你演讲之前，不要再改变任何内容。

Public speaking isn't difficult. It's uncomfortable the first few times, because people are looking at you, listening to you, and hoping to learn something from you. You don't want to let them down, so don't. Business is all about having an idea and communicating your vision, so go ahead. Inform them, entertain them, and fill the room with your energy, passion, and presence.

公开演讲并不难。开始几次会感觉到不适，因为人们看着你、听着你，并且希望从你这里学到一些东西。你也不想让他们失望，那就别让他们失望。商业说白了就是有一个想法，并且与人们沟通你的愿景，所以勇往直前吧。告诉他们、接纳他们，把你的精力、热情以及风度充满整个房间。