Many people fear public speaking, but there are strategies to overcome it. Realize that you are your own worst enemy and that your audience wants to hear what you have to say. Burn off nervous energy beforehand and approach the presentation as a team. Come prepared and remember that mistakes are not the end of the world.
If you have a fear of public speaking, take comfort in knowing that you are not alone. Many professionals and amateurs share the same fear, causing stress and anxiety in school or the workplace. But there are several strategies that can help you overcome your fear of public speaking, and most of these strategies are easy and almost immediately effective. Surprisingly enough, most of these strategies are also in your head, just like your fear.
Let’s face it: The biggest problem with public speaking isn’t the audience. It’s you. You’re nervous, you’re anxious, you’re shaking. Your audience doesn’t. Right? If this is the case, it means the public is not looking for you to fail, it means YOU are looking for you to fail. The first step to overcoming your fear of public speaking is realizing that you are your own worst enemy and that you are often too hard on yourself. Be like the audience – expect success.
People who have a fear of public speaking often cite a fear of looking or appearing dumb in front of a group, either because they fear they might make a mistake or because they might not sound professional enough. If this sounds familiar, there are strategies to avoid making major mistakes, but first and foremost: you need to convince yourself that your audience WANTS to hear what you have to say. They look at you as an authority, and everyone looks at you not because they’re waiting or making fun of you, but because they’re waiting for you to educate them. That’s why it’s you in front of the group and not them: you know they don’t, and they want to hear it from you. Remember: you are responsible. What you say works. If you told the audience to stand up, they would because you are in a position of power.
But those nerves are annoying, and you may find yourself shivering before your presentation. What should you do? Find a private space and do a push-up or two, or maybe a jumping jack. Your body is building up adrenaline because of your nerves, so rather than taking that nervous energy to the stage, burn it off beforehand. Squeezing and releasing a rubber ball or something else soft can also help. It may not cure your fear of public speaking, but it will calm your nerves enough to keep you going.
Approach your talk or presentation from a “We’re all in this together” perspective: Your audience is eager to learn, and you should be eager to educate. In other words, you and the audience are a team. The best way to do this is to come prepared. Organize your notes or printed speech – which should be printed in very large letters to make it easier to find your place when you look up to make eye contact with your audience – and make sure you’ve written a meticulous speech. Maybe even try starting with a joke, nothing too deep or lame, of course, but perhaps a humorous remark related to your subject. If you come prepared and do your part, the team cannot fail.
The bottom line is that you may never get over your fear of public speaking, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared and effective in front of a group. Remember that you are in charge and your expectations are always much higher than those of the public. And finally, take comfort in the knowledge that if you make a mistake, 99% of the audience won’t notice and your life will still go on after the speech is over!
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