ALT-12 How to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking
I feel the absolute need to express my opinion on this subject, especially since I suffer from agoraphobia and social anxiety. Although my public speaking in a selective environment such as a banquet, ceremony, or something alike is limited, I have developed...hmmmm adaptations to overcome fears that are present in those environments.
1.Humor- This is the most important of all, especially if you are a creative person. Laughter is the best medicine, as well as a recreational drug that as far as I know everyone enjoys. I used this time and time again in ALL the speeches I did for speech class is High School. If theres a thought in the back in your mind " Oh no, they're going to think I talk stupid, or they'll look at my giant zit" don't worry, with proper execution of humor in ANY speech you can realign your audiences attention to what's important.
2. Passion- I can't not express how nearly as important as number one this is. If you don't speak with passion, people will not listen, and even if they do, it will be only in disdain for their time wasted. If this is for speech class, make sure the subject is something you CAN be passionate about, if you aren't given the option then I suggest a little creative acting. Don't deny you can do that! You did it as a child, and you can still do it now.
3. Research- Now this one can sometimes coincide with passion. If you don't know what the hell you're talking about your audience wont either, if they do they're probably turning their thumbs downward because they know what you're messing up. Study every possible facet of the subject or reason for your speech. If it's a wedding and you're wishing the couple future luck, why not find out some harmless dirt on either, use it in a humorous context and use your passion for the couple to create an end product deemed Oscar worthy.
4. Preparation- Some have mentioned before, practice in front of a mirror. Understand your own mannerisms, gestures, facial expressions. Doing so can help you enterprise on number one again....humor! Jim Carrey used to practice making the silliest faces he could in front of a mirror just to work out something new, something that would get peoples attentions and look where he is. If you're ill prepared you might come off sounding like George W Bush in an open debate....and no one wants that!
5. Charisma- Don't come off as a fake, or a hack, or some dimwit. Understand human emotion. Understand what your audience is there for, and use a ruse or natural persuasion to compel, and focus your audience to the subject at hand. Again many people love humor, and even more so the ones being funny. So essentially this last point is a collaboration of the previous four. Use humor, passion, knowledge, and proper preparation to sway your audience. It works out well for many. If you can afford it, you can pull it off without gumption, just look at the President of the United States.
