Introduction:
The fear of public speaking is a common form of anxiety. It can range from slight nervousness to paralyzing fear and panic. Many people with this fear avoid public speaking situations altogether, or they suffer through them with shaking hands and a quavering voice. But with preparation and persistence, you can overcome your fear.
The fear of public speaking is very real. However, there are techniques to help you overcome your fears. There are even ways to help harness your energy in a positive way.
What is the fear of public speaking?
The fear of public speaking is also known as glossophobia. You feel nervous, your palms sweat, and your stomach ties itself into knots. You don’t want to do it. Fear of public speaking is the most common of all phobias. It’s a form of performance anxiety in which a person becomes very concerned that he or she will look visibly anxious, maybe even have a panic attack while speaking.
Over time, people try to protect themselves by either avoiding public speaking or by struggling against speech anxiety. In this way, people get tricked into making the fear of public speaking more chronic and disruptive. But you can overcome this fear of oral presentations with these simple public speaking tips!
How can you overcome this fear?
Below are some useful tips that will help you in overcoming glossophobia;
-
Be Prepared:
Nothing takes the place of practicing and preparing for your speech. The ability to connect with your audience comes from having the confidence you won’t get lost during your delivery. Rehearse several times before the big talk. Time your presentation and always have back up material in case time is left over. Prepare for your speech so well that you could answer any possible question thrown at you.
-
Get Organized:
Carefully plan out the information you want to present, including any props, audio or visual aids. The more organized you are, the less nervous you’ll be. When you organize all of your thoughts and materials it helps you to become much more relaxed and calm.
-
Practice:
Practice your presentation several times. Do it for some people you’re comfortable with and ask for feedback. Practice over and over again. It will reduce your fear of speaking in front of an audience.
-
Watch Yourself In The Mirror:
Practice your speech in front of the mirror as if you were speaking directly to someone. If you really want to learn how to improve public speaking skills then pay attention to your facial expressions, your gestures, your body movements and how welcoming you appear. When you have gentle expressions and a calm demeanor when you speak, you will be more welcoming to your audience.
-
Visualize Your Success:
Assume that your presentation will go well. Positive thoughts can help decrease some of your negativity about your social performance and relieve some anxiety.
-
Don’t Fear A Moment Of Silence:
If you lose track of what you’re saying or start to feel nervous and your mind goes blank, it may seem like you’ve been silent for an eternity. In reality, it’s probably only a few seconds. Even if it’s longer, it’s likely your audience won’t mind a pause to consider what you’ve been saying. Just take a few slow, deep breaths and continue again.
-
Focus On The Material And Not On The Audience:
Focus on delivering your material in the best way possible. Don’t worry about audience reactions.
-
Avoid Talking Too Fast:
Talking fast during a speech interferes with your breathing patterns. If you talk too fast you will breathe less. Feeling short of breath will make you panicked and more susceptible to fear. Practice slowing down when you speak and you will be more calm and relaxed.
Conclusion:
If you can’t overcome your fear with practice alone, consider seeking professional help. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a skills-based approach that can be a successful treatment for reducing fear of public speaking. Nervousness or anxiety in certain situations is normal, and public speaking is no exception. But you can surely overcome the fear of public speaking by following these tips!
