Being asked to speak in front of an audience is an exciting privilege! However, for some, public speaking can also be the equivalent of walking through hellfire.
Public speaking is at best a bit nerve-wracking for most people, and completely terrifying for some. Despite the apprehension, no one should ever let cold feet stop them from experiencing such an enriching and exciting experience!
Here are some ways to conquer your fear of public speaking and own the floor!
- Prepare. The best way to combat anxiety is to prepare yourself as best you can. Of course, you’ll want to formulate what you’re going to say. In addition, you should know the audience you’ll be presenting to, where and when you’ll be speaking and anything else you can find out that will put your mind at ease.
- Practice. You’re definitely going to want to practice your speech. It’s important to get comfortable with the flow of your dialogue so you can easily move through your speech without getting tripped up or lost. Practicing in the mirror is a great way to make sure you are actually portraying the image that you want to with your facial expressions and body language.
- Remember to breathe. It sounds like a no-brainer, but when we’re nervous, we have a tendency to restrict our breathing. Take the time to pause for deep, controlled breaths; you don’t have to rush through!
- Silence your inner critic. Don’t pay attention to that negative voice inside your head. In stressful situations, we all have that voice that’s telling us what can go wrong, trying to bring up past failures, and telling us that we’re going to fail. Silence that voice by replacing it with positive, reaffirming thoughts.
- Remember what you bring to the table. If you are asked to speak at a platform, you are already doing something right! Your input is obviously valued and people want to hear what you have to say! Remind yourself of the skills and knowledge that you have, and focus on that!
- Speak your truth. When you’re honest with yourself, stay true to your values and speak about a subject that you’re comfortable with and passionate about, you will feel more at ease.
- Focus on individuals. Speaking to a large audience can be really intimidating. Try focusing on individual people as you speak so you can feel more connected and less overwhelmed by the crowd.
- Be real. Always be your authentic self. If you try to take on a personality that isn’t your own, you won’t be able to own your presence, and your audience will feel that. Just be you!
- Do it whenever you can! The best way to overcome your fear of public speaking is to do it as often as possible. It will get a little bit easier each time you do it.
- Go easy on yourself. Give yourself credit for all that you accomplish. Don’t tear yourself apart if you make a mistake or if it doesn’t go perfectly. No one is judging you as harshly as you’re judging yourself.
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