7 tips to Overcome Your fears of Public Speaking

7 Tips to Overcome your fears of Public Speaking

Did you know where the wealthiest place in the world is? No it isn’t Dubai, America or China. It’s the graveyard! This is the place where dreams, talents, inventions and goals are buried. Most people never reach their full potential in life because of fear, and one of the most common fears is public speaking.

The anxiety associated with public speaking is due to a number of factors; however, some are more common than others, these include the following:

• The fear of being embarrassed
• The fear of not knowing what to say
• The fear of forgetting what to say
• The fear of looking nervous etc.

The only way you can overcome fear is by confronting it.

Speaking in public is a skill that you can acquire, the more you practice, the better you will become. Below are seven tips to Overcome your fear of public speaking and boost your business

1. Watch your body language: It's what you don't say that tells the most about you. The way you stand and what you do with your hands can give away more than you care to reveal. Nervousness is easily read if you fidget or avoid eye contact.
2. Record Yourself and Learn Your Voice: Practicing public speaking can go a long way, as far as giving your audience a pleasant experience in listening and watching you in front. However, you should also listen to your voice. Practicing your speech countless times can help. Some people do not like listening to the sound of their voice on tape, so it is important that you get used to your own voice and speaking style
3. Don’t let certain things distract you: When you are speaking in front of a large crowd, there is always a possibility for certain things to distract you. Some of which would include people standing up while you are talking, wicked eyes in the crowd or late comers opening the doors. Keep in mind that these things will only become your distractions if you let them. Focus on your goals and fire your message through.
4. Warm up before your Presentations: Before you present, you have to warm yourself up physically and psychologically. As a speaker, you have to find your source of happiness i.e. things that make you happy and can inspire you before your presentation. For some people, listening to their favorite songs, motivational videos, playing with kids or meditating can keep and make them happy before they present. Before you speak, you must also take note of the time you will be having your presentation so that you can preserve and energize your voice to present e.g. if you are to present in the morning, you will have to wake up early and walk around, take some warm water, use your voice to sing, rehearse or talk to people to warm your voice up before your presentation time. If you are to present in the afternoon too, you need to preserve your voice during the day by speaking less and not using and exhausting your voice before your presentation. All these will give you a quality vocal delivery.
5. Walk on Stage with passion: As a professional speaker, you have to always walk on stage with passion and let it look as if you belong there. And that means everywhere you go, because the world is your stage. This doesn’t mean that you ever appear arrogant or controlling – you simply give the impression that you are comfortable and belong there.
6. Visualize your success. Imagine yourself giving your speech: your voice is loud, clear and confident. Imagine hearing the audience’s applause – it will boost your confidence
7. Practice. Practice.Practice.Practice: Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Work to control filler words; Practice, pause and breathe. Use a clock to check your timings and allow time for the unexpected. If you want to take Public Speaking as a career and win big, then you have to make practicing your daily routine.

Want hands-on help with your next presentation? get the Confident Speakers book #now The Confident Speakers book or enroll in my Speakers Coaching Program

Published By

Ibrahim Mustapha