Nov 16 2008
Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking
I’m standing in front of my class. My stomach is in knots; my whole body is shaking. My heart is racing a million miles an hour, and I’m so scared I’m going to look stupid in front of my best friend who thinks I’m so “intelligent”. I don’t want to disappoint her, to have her think I really am not as smart as she thought I was all those years.
Does this sound familiar? The fear of public speaking is the second most common fear, next to snakes and just before the fear of dying.
Like myself, many people who are scared of speaking in front of groups are afraid of making a fool out of themselves. They get very nervous when it comes time for them to give a presentation or speech. Symptoms of the fear of speaking may include a racing heart, nausea or “butterflies”, shaking, trembling in the body and voice, excessive sweating, excessive salivation, and/or dry mouth.
Thankfully, there are some techniques you can use in order to help you conquer the fear of public speaking.
I found that one thing that helps me is to be prepared for my presentation or speech. I prepare thoroughly and practice my presentation or speech a few times before I have to give it. However, you don’t want to practice your speech word for word. If you practice word for word, you are much more likely to get messed up and more nervous in front of an audience than if you practice a few ways of saying your speech to get your points across to your audience.
If you are able to, practice your speech in front of an objective person to gain some feedback. Colleges generally have speaking centers where other, objective students can listen to you give your presentation and give you feedback on what you do well and what you can improve upon.
Another thing that might help you in public speaking situations is to think of your audience as not that important. The more important you think your audience is, the more nervous you will be. An old trick some people use is to picture their audience naked.
Alternatively, you can view your audience as friendly, caring people. In general, your audience will want to hear what you have to say. Taking this positive attitude might help relax you as you begin your presentation or speech.
Before you give your speech, take a few deep breaths to calm yourself down. Wait until the audience is settled before you begin speaking; this gives you a chance to be in control of the situation in a way that is empowering.
Public speaking is a very nerve-wracking experience for many people, but using these techniques may help you be less afraid when you speak in front of a group.
Please tell me what you think in the comments section below!
Source:
School for Champions: Overcome the Fear of Speaking to Groups
“think of your audience as not that important.” or “audience naked” LOL good ideas that can help… But speaking in public requires you make good audience eye contact and come across as you can relate to them… I fear that thinking that your audience is nothing more then a bunch of mindless nudist might not help…
Oh, believe this, as a guy and the people I’ve done speeches for think of them as being nude is more of a nightmare… DOH!
“take a few deep breaths to calm yourself down” yes! this will help and is what i do… The other think is just be prepared for your speech and give your self some room in the topic your talking about so you don’t have to be tied to your notes… And remember even if you think you made a mistake and your up there worried about it the fact is your audience 9 times out of 10 will never know so just keep moving… Most of all have fun with it! Use a joke or two to lighten up the mood.