Into Motivation

There are a variety of ways you can reduce stage fright. Probably the best thing you can do is be prepared. By being prepared, you can walk into your best man speeches with confidence, knowing that you have what you want to say and you can say it well. A good way to do this is to practice in the mirror. Close your eyes and pretend you’re in the reception hall, take a deep breath, and start. If you need to, start by only saying little pieces at a time, then gradually build up to the whole speech. Once you have practiced the whole speech, do it again and try not to stop. If you get stuck, do your best to finish calmly and with feeling. By preparing for a mistake, you can be ready for the worst case scenario, and probably even avoid one altogether.

Look online for some breathing exercises that will help you relax. They are a physically proven quick stress reliever that can reduce tension and slow your heart rate. Breathing is important during your speech. If you have to consciously stop to take a breath, it is okay. No one will even notice. Although you feel like you have all eyes on you, you’re not being judged as closely as you think you are. Relax your muscles; you don’t want to look like a talking statue. Just be yourself! That’s the reason you were chosen to be a Best Man after all.

Don’t be afraid to move around a little bit, but don’t pace like a worried mother. Think comedian: natural and comfortable. Have a drink. That does NOT mean get drunk! A quick sip beforehand to reduce your anxiety probably won’t do any harm, but don’t let yourself over-drink because you’re nervous. You don’t want to embarrass yourself in front of all the family and friends of the wedded couple. Although you will have definitely achieved the memorable aspect of the speech, you

will be completely lacking in the genuine and respectable part.

Many people have issues with what do with their hands when they’re speaking. If you want to keep something in one of your hands, don’t make it very noticeable.? You don’t want people focusing on what you’re holding instead of your speech. Try a rolled up paper towel. It’s a quick sweat absorber and can easily be kept out of sight. It’s a good idea to keep a glass of water around, but holding it in your hand may not be a good idea, unless you’ve practice with it. If you get focused on something besides your drink and accidentally wave your hands, you could accidentally send water launching at the Bride. A quick sip no and then provides a good timeout during your speech, but you want to retain its flow, so don’t interrupt it with water too much.

Look directly above the heads of the audience. You can pretend your speaking to a room of mannequins, but that may or may not freak you out a little. Don’t look straight up at the ceiling, but scan the back wall of the room with your eyes. You don’t need to make eye-contact with anyone if you can make it look like you are. Pretend you’re alone or just talking directly to the Groom. This sounds like it’s easier said than done, but it can be pretty simple. Take a few seconds before you start your best mans speech to “get in the zone.” Seriously, take your time. It might feel like a century to you, but time hasn’t slowed down. Give your self a quick pep talk. You were chosen out of all the people in the crowd to be the Best Man for the Groom. Be proud of that! There are tons of people who will never get the opportunity to give such a memorable best man speeches examples to their best friend, father, or son.