Public Speaking Fear - Perseverance

The best way to overcome public speaking fear is to keep on doing it. George Bernard Shaw used this method to overcome his public speaking fear.

To improve on his method, develop a short speech and deliver it frequently.

There are groups and organisations that meet every week that are ideal places to practice, e.g PTA meetings, social and civic clubs. Also a good public speaking course, that gives you the opportunity to speakcan help immensely.

Once you get going on, public speaking fear usually declines rapidly to the point where it helps you develop your public speaking skills to give more effective speeches.

The fear of public speaking is a normal fear, but it has been learned and can be overcome by using the 5 "P"s of preparation, passion, positive, practice and perseverance.

Public Speaking Fear - Practice

ractice is of prime importance in building confidence and reducing public speaking fear. Practice as often as you can in front of a mirror and in front of your family and friends in the way you will give your speech (use brief notes to keep you on track).

Public speaking skills are developed by practice, as are all skills.

If you choose to read your speech, practice the tone and pace of your speaking. Lift your eyes up from the page. Practice until you are comfortable giving your speech.
Re-write your speech to make it easier to read and to make it more conversationalIf possible have a dry run in the room you are going to deliver your speech. This will help your nerves because when you start speaking it will be in familiar surroundings. It will also have given you chance to address any issues with the facilities and the room.

Public Speaking Fear - Positive

Public speaking anxiety, we know, can be overcome because it is a learnt response and many other people have been able to overcome it.

When asked give a presentation or speech, our public speaking fear plays like CD on repeat all the things that could go wrong - we say to ourselves - what if this goes wrong or if that along with other negative thoughts. This just makes us feel worse.

Along with taking positive action - i.e. getting prepared - try to replace your negative thoughts with positive as follows:-

Envision a positive outcome. Create a vivid picture in your mind of a successful speech and keep focused on it. Just before you go on stage to present take several deep breaths to calm the nerves and really go overboard on your positive self-talk. Tell yourself how great you are. Your audience will respond well to your positive demeanour as you approach the stage and begin to speak.

Public speaking fear is natural but it can be beaten, so choose to be positive and also take action.

Public Speaking Fear - Passion

Public speaking fear is heightened if you speak about a topic you are not interested in or committed to. If you haven't convinced yourself the topic is worthwhile, it will probably be impossible to convince or interest your audience.

Choose a topic that you are interested in and will interest your audience. Your enthusiasm for the subject you are presenting will make it easier for you to speak on the topic and that enthusiasm is contagious. Also, you will have talked about this topic before and when you are presenting you will merely be extending the conversation.

When you are passionate about a topic and have a thorough knowledge of the topic, it is easier to win over an audience and your public speaking anxiety will be reduced

Public Speaking Fear Preparation

Here are some further tips to beat the fear of public speaking, to help you develop effective public speaking skills:

Be Prepared:-
Prepare thoroughly for your speaking engagement. Firstly understand your audience and what they expect. Who are they, their age etc? This will help when choosing your subject. Meet some of them beforehand it is easier to deliver a speech to people beforehand.

Choose a subject that will interest your audience and will be worthwhile to them. Research your topic thoroughly.

Your primary source of information should be your own personal experience and after that read up on the topic to get a more detailed knowledge. Thorough research will make writing and preparing your speech easier.

When you are starting out it is easier to write the speech out word for word. If you are going to read your speech, ensure it is written in spoken English.

Good preparation is major way to reduce public speaking fear.

Public Speaking Fear Can Be Beaten

It is useful to know that public speaking fear has be taught to us and that many people with the skills of confident public speaking have had to first overcame their public speaking fear. This means that it is possible to "re-program" ourselves and we have a path to follow.

Here are 3 easy tips (with more to follow) to help with public speaking fear by changing your thinking and relaxing :-

1. Don't think about your speech being criticized. Instead think to yourself "I am doing my best. And if someone is unhappy with my speech, so what?"

2. Remember you feel more nervous than you will appear to the audience. Also, most audiences are sympathetic towards you. They know how hard it is to speak in public and are glad it isn't them.

3. If you are feeling tense before you speak go for a short walk or do some stretches to relieve tension.Take a few deep breaths just before you speak to help you relax.

Public speaking fear, we know, can be overcome because we are not born with it and other have beaten their public speaking stage fright.

Public Speaking Fear Can Be Overcome

It is because public speaking fear is learnt that it can be overcome. And many of today's speakers who now possess the ability of confident public speaking were at first afraid of public speaking. Where others have overcome their public speaking fear it is possible for us to follow.

Some presentation nerves are a good thing because the adrenaline make us more energized (I've also heard it can help make us better looking too!) and helps to keep us focused on doing our best. It is when the presentation nerves become too much and interferes with the giving of an effective speech or presentation that it becomes a problem.

The tips and techniques that follow will help you beat you public speaking fear to be an effective presenter and public speaker.