Public Speaking Tips to Help Deliver a Eulogy

Being asked to deliver a eulogy at a loved one’s funeral can be a great honor yet fill you with feelings of nervousness and anxiety. This is especially true if you are like most people and share a fear of public speaking. Fortunately there are some tips you can do to prepare for this speech and directors of funeral homes in Columbia, TN. share what they are.

1. Get Organized

Knowing what you want to say ahead of time is paramount in making you feel confident the day of. Make sue you have all of your information organized in a manner that is easy to refer to. This may mean that you write out the entire speech so that you can simply read it word-for -word. Or maybe you feel more comfortable having note cards with the information bulleted for easy reference. Whatever you decide, just make sure the information is in order and easy for you to access.

2. Practice Makes Perfect

There’s a reason this saying is still popular today; because it rings true. The more you practice something, the better you will be and this is the same for public speaking. Practice giving your eulogy to yourself, your friends, your dog…anyone who will listen. The more you recite it, the more comfortable you will begin to feel.

3. Breathe Deeply

Once the day is here and you are about to deliver the eulogy, do some deep breathing to help calm your nerves. You can do this by breathing in through your nose for a slow count of four, then hold briefly before releasing the air out your mouth for also a slow count of four. Pause briefly and repeat, Doing this three or four times will help calm your mind and body and help prepare you for your speech.

4. Don’t Worry About the Audience

Often times when we are giving a speech or talking to a crowd we can start focusing too much on the crowd’s reaction (or there lack of). Once we start focusing on this, we can feel flustered, lose our place, and get into a bad rhythm that is difficult to get out of.

When you are giving your eulogy, focus on your words, not the audience. When you look up from reading, instead of looking at the guests, find a spot in the back of the room to look at. This will give the impression you are looking at the audience without actually having to make eye contact with anyone.

Final Thoughts

Giving a speech in front of a crowd can be challenging in any situation. It can be especially tough when it is a eulogy as you want to handle this delivery in a manner that is appropriate. Make sure you practice, take some deep breaths right beforehand, and focus on the words of the eulogy rather than the audience and you will be fine. Just know that the guests who are attending the service in funeral homes in Columbia, TN are there to pay tribute to the deceased and are not judging and critiquing your delivery.