How to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking
Seven Steps to Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking
As a Public Speaking teacher at the University level for more than 10 years, I have found these seven simple tips invaluable in helping my students overcome their fear of public speaking. Every day we are giving speeches, whether you realize it or not. Granted, most are impromptu, or spur of the moment, but we all engage in "mini speeches" in some form or the other. Why then, when asked to give a formal speech, do we experience that fear that is ranked only second to the fear of death? The answer is simple. We simply need to understand that there are proven strategies to help us overcome our fears and use them. Here are seven proven strategies. Implement them and you will have nothing to lose except your fear of public speaking.
1. Just breathe- Take slow, deep breathes. Yes, you heard me. Breathe slowly and deeply before you make your presentation. Take one more deep breathe before you get up to speak. Try it, I promise it works.
2. Practice makes perfect- I can't emphasize enough how important speech preparation is. Practice, practice, practice. Many people procrastinate and don't prepare ahead of time, which enhances their fear. In fact, procrastination is a way of reinforcing a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you don't prepare and fail, you have reinforced your belief that you are not a good public speaker. Change that attitude and it will have a positive impact on your public speaking skills.
3. Set realistic goals-We know that practice makes perfect, but the good news is you don't have to be. Part of the reason you are so tense and nervous is that you have set unrealistic goals for yourself. You think if you make one mistake, you will crash and burn. You think you have to be perfect and nothing could be further from the truth. If you make a mistake, move forward. Chances are the audience won't notice, unless you point it out.
4. A little anxiety is a good thing- Ask any athlete you know and they will tell you that anxiety is a good thing. That adrenaline you feel before the big game enhances your performance. The same is true in public speaking. In sports they call it getting "psyched." Well, think of your speech in the same way. You should be excited, or "psyched" about the opportunity to speak. Use that adrenaline rush to enhance your performance. It works. Your speech will be infused with your enthusiasm and the audience will benefit from the results. In other words, don't try to get rid of those butterflies in your stomach....just teach them to fly in formation.
5. Visualize success-Visualization works. Pat Riley, the NBA championship coach, had his team practice shooting free throws under two different circumstances. One group practiced shooting free throws in the gym and the other group sat in a room and visualized successfully making free throw shots. When the group reconvened and shot free throws together, guess who performed better? The group who had practiced visualization. Again, you have nothing to use. Once you've written your speech and you know the venue, imagine yourself giving an outstanding presentation.
6. Focus on your message- Have you ever felt so strongly about something that you couldn't remain silent? Consider that feeling when you think about public speaking. Make your message more important than your fear. Yes, you are afraid, but what you have to say is so important that it supercedes your fear.
7. The audience won't notice your fear - Sweaty palms or shaking hands are external symptoms of your fear of public speaking. You are internally terrified and it is starting to make you shake and sweat. You want to run out of the room so the audience won't see how terrified you are, This experience is often referred to as the "fear and flight" syndrome. Instead of running, you stand your ground. Know that unless you point out your physical symptoms of fear, your audience will never notice.
In closing, good luck with your public speaking experience. If you are afraid, seek opportunities to speak. The more you practice, the more you will overcome your fear.
