Tips to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking

Many surveys have shown that public speaking is the most common fear after the fear of dying. In fact, as you are reading this article, thousands of people around the world are about to perform speeches. Many of them are scared senseless but some truly enjoy it. In this article, I’m going to give you 5 powerful tips to help you overcome your fear of public speaking and deliver a great speech.

Understand that public speaking is a learnable skill: Let’s be clear, public speaking is a skill and like any other skill, it can be learned. The better you get at it, the more confident you will become. “I’m not a good communicator” or “I’m not charismatic” aren’t valid excuses. I’ve always been interested in why some people are charismatic while others seem to lack it entirely. However, i realized that if you break it down to its simplest element, good public speaking isn’t about charisma. It’s essentially a mix of words and gestures. In fact, if you are committed enough and willing to put enough time and effort into it, there’s no reason you can’t become a world-class public speaker. The first step is to believe that it’s possible. If that’s something you struggle with, check out these awesome quotes that will make you believe in yourself again. 

Focus on your message, not on yourself: One of the biggest problems people have when speaking in front of an audience is that they are overly self-conscious. They worry too much about what other people think of them and become nervous. One of the most powerful techniques you can use when giving a speech is to focus on your message rather than focusing on yourself. In fact, from the standpoint of your audience, you aren’t as important as you may think you are. Your audience is much more interested in what you have to say and how they’re going to benefit from it than they are in you as a person. You’re simply a vehicle for your message. The vehicle isn’t important, the message is.This technique can be applied to the preparation for your speech as well. When preparing your speech, don’t think about trying to make other people like you. Narrow your focus to the message you want to convey to your audience and the value you want to provide them. 

Have some time before you go on stage: Whenever possible, take some time for yourself just before your speech in order to prepare yourself mentally. Use this time to focus on the message you want to deliver and the impact you want to have on your audience. 

Start your speech with a great ice-breaker: By connecting with your audience from the get-go, everything will be easier. Try to involve your audience from the beginning of your speech and make your best effort to engage with them. Think of your presentation as a conversation with your audience rather than a one-sided interaction. It’s best to talk to them, not at them. 

Do your homework: Giving a speech can be a very scary experience and the last thing you want to do is to add unnecessary uncertainty to the process. Make sure you’re familiar with the venue you’ll be speaking out. Visit the place beforehand if you can. If that’s not possible, arrive early and don’t hesitate to ask someone to show you the venue if necessary. Walk on stage and visualize the audience. Befriend the staff and immerse yourself in the environment. Doing these things will enable you to feel more comfortable in your surroundings which will make addressing your audience much easier.

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