How to Speak With Confidence in Public
There are interview portions in every pro cheer tryout. Whether it's a formal meeting or just casually answering questions, aspiring professional cheerleaders are required to introduce themselves and show confidence while speaking in front of judges. This can be nerve-wracking, especially when it's your first time auditioning. But don't worry. By preparing and building confidence, you can nail that interview!
Here are five tips to boost your confidence in public speaking.
1. Increase your knowledge in professional cheerleading.
The main reason why teams interview their applicants is to know if they're capable of representing the team's brand in front of the media or a crowd of fans. Professional cheerleaders are often asked about their thoughts on different topics like the team they're representing, current events, or the sport itself.
And as ambassadors of the team, pro cheerleaders should show full confidence while answering these questions. One way to prepare is to increase your knowledge about these topics.
But there's no shortcut for this part. You'll need to read or watch in order to learn more about professional cheerleading. Note that learning more will not only increase your confidence during the audition but also motivates you to participate in discussions about such topics.
2. Visualize and practice.
Practice makes perfect.
Not all individuals are born confident. But public speaking is a skill that can be mastered through regular practice. By practicing your speaking skills, you'll gain more confidence in no time.
To help you prepare, you can search for sample questions and record yourself while answering them. You can also request your loved ones or mentors to give feedback on how you can improve. Of course, your goal is to be confident and eloquent enough while speaking to strangers, but you can start by talking to familiar faces.
Having positive mental imagery is also a great way to reinforce your confidence. Visualize yourself in front of the judge and imagine being all confident in front of them.
3. Never memorize your answers.
It's good to have sample questions so you can practice how to answer. However, making a script for you to memorize is a major NO. It will sound more rehearsed and unnatural, which can be a turnoff.
The key here is to be yourself. You'll never know what they'll ask, so learn how to handle unexpected questions instead.
4. Facial expression and body language are essential.
As a cheerleader, you'll be expected to look joyful in front of a large crowd almost all the time, even when you're under pressure. So during your audition, anticipate that the judges will observe you in terms of your facial expression.
Here's what you can do. First, look at yourself in front of a mirror. Then, smile! Give your best smile and show confident body language. You should stand with a good posture — chin up, shoulder back, and maintain eye contact. If you're contented, now try talking while keeping that posture. It may not be easy on your first try, but you'll improve as long as you practice.
Try not to be stiff. Instead, relax your body and match your body language with what you're saying. Consider nodding, and don't forget to smile!
5. Manage your nerves.
Pro cheer tryouts can be scary and stressful. However, if you let your nerves eat your confidence, it’ll have a negative impact on your performance and interview. So manage your nerves by breathing slowly and shaking your body beforehand. Also, try to avoid consuming too much caffeine before auditioning, as it can cause palpitations and shivering.
Conclusion
Being confident is one of the factors to being part of your dream team. And although it's hard at the start, you’ll eventually gain confidence with enough practice and preparation. So good luck and do your best!
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