Public Speaking Anxiety: Getting Success With Public Speaking
Public speaking anxiety is a common fear among many people and it can be hard to relax when you're getting ready to give a speech. Public speaking anxiety can have an impact on many aspects of your life as well, including performance in the workplace, relationships, and personal projects.
Thankfully, there are ways to overcome this condition and make giving speeches easier on yourself and those who are listening from the audience. These strategies involve taking control of your mind by focusing on what you want to say rather than what could go wrong with giving the speech.
Embracing the Fear: In order to overcome the fear of speaking, you need to face it head on. The sooner you can work up the courage to give a speech, the sooner you'll stop being afraid of this experience. Consider volunteering to give a speech at work or asking to make an announcement in front of your class. Start off small and as you get more comfortable with presenting in front of others, you'll find that public speaking anxiety is something that everyone faces from time to time no matter how accomplished they are.
Visualization: It can be helpful to put yourself into the position you'll be in when you're giving your speech. Visualize everything about it, including what your audience will look like and how they will react to what you have to say. Start to fantasize about a great response from your audience. Imagine that everyone is smiling or laughing and that they are very pleased with the message you are conveying. The more you let your mind play out the experience in a positive way, the more likely you'll be able to relax when it's actually time to give your speech.
Physical Preparation: While mental preparation is very important, you also need to make sure that your body is ready for the demands of public speaking. Just as other athletes get ready for a big game, you should practice speaking in front of an audience by giving actual speeches. This process will help you to get the confidence you need in order to relax when the time comes.
You should also make sure that you have a small meal before your speech and drink plenty of liquids. This is a good way to ensure that your body is getting all of the fuel it needs to keep your mind focused throughout your presentation.
Preparation: When you're giving a speech, it's important to be as prepared as possible so that you don't have time to worry about what might happen. Make sure that you know exactly what you're going to say and have a plan for handling questions from the audience. You should also think about potential distractions so that you can be prepared for anything that could happen.
Don't try to memorize your speech word for word, but rather write down the main points. This will make it easier to put your thoughts together as you give your speech and reduce the opportunity to get anxious while standing in front of an audience.
Taking Control: The last thing you want to do right before you give your speech is to panic. Instead, make a conscious effort to take back control of your mind. Focus on what you want to say and imagine how great the audience will react because they are listening to what you have to say. Take a deep breath and then get ready to present your speech. You may even find it helpful to have a group of people with you who are there just in case any problems happen on stage (like equipment failure).
When you give your speech, make sure that you maintain direct eye contact with people in the audience and project your voice so that everyone can hear what is being said. Don't let yourself go blank and remember to smile if you want to convey a strong message.
After the Speech: Even if your speech went great, you may find it difficult to let go of public speaking anxiety. You'll need to keep reminding yourself how well it went before finally letting it go. Many people find it helpful to give a speech more than once, with the goal of improving with each time. Keep practicing and before you know it you'll be comfortable giving speeches whenever they are needed.
Public Speaking Anxiety: Getting Success With Public Speaking
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"Making Your Presentations Come Alive: Tips to Make Your Presentations Memorable" accessed July 29, 2014, http://gaillemines.
Conclusion: It is obvious that if you are going to present at a community leader meeting or a political rally, you will want to be well prepared. Before addressing the crowd, it is important to give the audience some assurance that you will make your presentation interesting and not forget their needs. To do this it is best to practice your presentation and use these tips for public speaking anxiety.
"Public Speaking Anxiety: Getting Success With Public Speaking" accessed July 29, 2014, http://www.publicspeakinganswers.