Are you scared of public speaking?
You aren’t alone. Many people in this world can’t imagine getting up in front of a crowd and delivering a presentation. The good news is, there are several ways to deal with a fear of public speaking. Keep reading to find out more.
Practice, Practice, Practice
It has been said time and time again that practice makes perfect. The more you practice in advance of a public speaking event, the better it will go. If it goes well, you will find that your confidence improves tremendously. Take your practice to the next level and practice in front of a mirror or a friend. You’ll be surprised how much better you feel when you are well prepared.
Focus On Your Speaking
When you practice for your public speaking event, be sure to listen to how you speak, and develop a pattern if you can. This will help you better remember what you were supposed to say and speak in the same rhythm when your moment comes. Also, plan your pauses, your breathing, and always think of what you will say next. This will help you feel more prepared and relaxed when you are in front of everyone.
Don’t Focus on the Audience
You may have heard that you should picture the audience in their underwear, but this isn’t very good advice. It causes you to focus on the audience and get distracted or lost as you speak. Instead, pretend the audience isn’t there at all. Focus over or at the top of their heads (don’t make eye contact). Whatever it takes until you are more comfortable.
Publicly Speak More Often
As bad as it sounds, the best way to overcome your fear of public speaking is to do it more often. This is because you will gain confidence and finesse with time. Volunteer to speak at additional events or work functions. Although it is uncomfortable, especially as you learn, just stick with it, and eventually, you will be an amazing public speaker and wonder why you were afraid, to begin with!
Overall, public speaking is a hard fear to overcome, but if you practice, focus on the way your speaking sounds to yourself, and skip focusing on the audience, you may find it isn’t so bad at all. Then you can sign up for everything public speaking event in your area, and before you know it, you will be a pro at public speaking!