Online Store4 Ways to Help You Encounter with Public Speaking Anxiety
Look over the 4 main ideas here and see how to incorporate them in your own preparation so you can knock public speaking anxiety on the head:
1. Thorough Preparation
What is the most effective way to kill audience fear? Thorough, thorough preparation. You just can’t skimp on it.
If you have carefully researched your material so you are convinced it is worth delivering, and you firmly believe your audience needs to hear it, and you have practiced and practiced the delivery, you can stand up in front of an audience with confidence!
2. Breathing
Deep breaths help relax the body which in turn can help you control your nervous feelings. Don’t concentrate on how you feel, or your feelings of anxiety. Instead, focus, concentrate of your message and on the audience in front of you.
Monitor your own self-talk. If you catch yourself thinking negatively, repeating things like “I am so nervous” delete the thought immediately. Replace it right away with positive affirmations like “I am going to give an unforgettable presentation”, “I’m in control and my audience needs to hear this.”
3. Confidence Visualized
To increase confidence and combat uncertainty use visualization techniques. These can be VERY effective.
Run over in your mind the sequence of events leading up to your speech. In your mind’s eye see yourself slowly approaching the podium in a controlled manner. Now you see yourself pausing with dignity as you glance around the room making eye contact with the audience. Now you see and hear yourself uttering the first couple of sentences as you launch into your speech.
4. End Result Visualization
Include the end result in your visualization exercise.
Picture the end result of your speech as you graciously accept the applause of the audience, you see the smiles of appreciation, and you hear the complimentary remarks.
Mohammed Ali used a fascinating technique when he was preparing for a fight. In a TV interview he explained how he used his vivid imagination to picture himself there in the ring, in the stadium. Most importantly, he could see himself in his mind’s eye at the end of the fight, arm in the air - the victor!
This mental imagery was very real to him so the sights, sounds, smells, feelings, played out in his mind creating the experience. He created what he called a ‘Future History’.
Why not create a ‘Future History’ for yourself before your next presentation and see how it triggers the necessary energy to overcome any feelings of self-doubt.
Of course, to be realistic, it is unlikely most people will totally conquer public speaking fear. Some experienced public speakers however can just walk out in front of an audience with no feelings of nervousness at all.
For the majority however, who may only be called on occasionally to speak before a group or an audience, there will always be some anxiety. A realistic expectation regarding public speaking anxiety and following the suggestions above can however do much to control it so it does not overwhelm the speaker.
