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Tips on Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety
Public speaking is a very common phobia. Many people never deal with this anxiety because they tend to avoid any situation that requires them to speak in public at all costs. This fear, however, could be hindering both someone’s professional and personal life.
There are occasions when it is a necessary, or expected, for us to speak in public, e.g. the groom or best man at a wedding, a farewell speech when changing jobs or a presentation in a job interview. So, as much as we may try to avoid it, the likelihood is that we will all, one day, have to speak in public.
Fear of public speaking is a very real phenomenon: people can experience nausea, panic attacks and sweating, but it is possible to overcome this fear by using special techniques and harnessing the nervous energy in a positive way.
- Get organised – prepare what you are going to say in plenty of time. This will help you to feel calmer, more relaxed and less anxious.
- Practise the speech in front of someone – it could be to yourself in the mirror, a member of the family or a friend, even the dog, but if you practise, it will certainly help to control your anxiety.
- Make some notes – but avoid reading the speech word for word. Don’t attempt to memorise it, either. Instead make a note of the key points to keep you on track.
- Breathing – breathe calmly and focus on getting into a rhythm. This will give your voice more resonance and will help you to relax.
- Don’t rush – if you talk too fast you will breathe less deeply, and feeling short of breath will make you panic even more. Practise slowing down when you speak and don’t be afraid to pause if you feel you are losing the rhythm of your breath or need to collect your thoughts.
- Engage with the audience – keep looking up and maintaining eye contact with your audience.
- Banish negative thoughts – there is no reason to think you will make a mistake or embarrass yourself. Relax, do your best to enjoy the experience and keep smiling.
If you’re struggling to cope with this, or any other phobia, please contact us at [email protected] for further information.