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What is your biggest fear? Is it fear of heights, flying or snakes? Did you know that the fear of public speaking comes close to the top of the list? On www.saviodsilva.net fear of public speaking ranks 4th out of 110 fears that people have. On www.selfhelpcollective.com it ranks 2nd out of the top 10 fears. Is that a fear you have - standing up & speaking in front of a group? Join the club! This month's topic is about "How to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking."
At school I was very shy & I absolutely dreaded being asked to stand up in class and answer questions, in case I made a fool of myself and everybody laughed at me. A while back, one of my old school friends commented, "Who would have ever thought you would end up teaching public speaking!" Exactly!
When I became a primary teacher after leaving school, speaking in front of a group of children was much easier than speaking in front of adults. I joined a theatre group & this helped me to start breaking down that fear. When I joined Toastmasters 25yrs ago, that really helped me to overcome my fear of public speaking. I'll never forget one of the older, experienced members saying to me, not long after I joined - "It doesn't matter if there are 6, 16, 60 or 600 people listening to you, always speak from the heart, give of your best & make each person feel like you are speaking to them." That valuable piece of advice has stayed with me ever since.
Fifteen years ago I began running my own public speaking program and have helped over a thousand people successfully overcome their fears and then, to be able to move onto the next step more confidently, to become interesting presenters that people wanted to listen to.
That is what I now want to share with you, some simple, tried & tested tips on how you can become a more confident speaker in any situation - meetings, job interviews, functions, seminars, weddings, funerals, product launches, seminars, etc.
The key is to be able to stand up when speaking in front of others & this is where much of the fear stems from. People are usually more at ease, speaking from a sitting position, but when you have to stand up, you stand out more.
What are the words going thru your mind, at the thought of having to speak in front of a group? Could it be - "I'll make a fool of myself" or "I'll forget my words" or "I'm not worth listening to".
Catch your 'fear' thoughts and picture the outcome you would like to have - Focus on seeing yourself standing confidently in front of the group, whether it's 10 or 100, looking friendly, speaking in a clear voice, using your hands to gesture when appropriate. See the group listening to you with interest.
As you are picturing this, change your 'fear' thoughts to positive ones - "I now speak confidently in front of my group." "I am worth listening to." "I now remember the words of my talk." "I now make comfortable eye contact with the group" .
Eye contact is so important and is a vital link between you & your listeners.
I do this process myself every time, before I present in front of a group. I have done it for years & truly believe it helps me to present confidently. The other saying I always add is - "The right words now come to me for this presentation." It is important to prepare & know your material, but not to deliver it in a monotone, parrot fashion way that puts people to sleep. Know your stuff, but be flexible enough to be able to present it in a conversational way that does hold people's attention.
So, go out there & challenge youself to stand up & be heard. Each practise builds your confidence & skills. It takes about 17 practises to change old patterns. Go for it. The benefits of being a confident speaker can enhance your life in different ways, at any stage of your life - improves personal communication skills, strengthens leadership skills, improves work promotion opportunities, gives you confidence to become president of a community organisation, compare fund-raising events, MC functions, the list goes on.
Good luck. Eva
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