The Fear of Public Speaking

Are you one of these people that just hate the idea of public speaking, being on a platform in front of many people, with all eyes on you?  They say to focus on the audience as your friends, but this still doesn’t help because you don’t even know them! Fear of public speaking is a very common problem. It adversely affects the lives of many successful professionals. Most sufferers feel too embarrassed to acknowledge it, even to find out how to get effective help.

But, like all things, there are ways to overcome the fear of public speaking!

So what do we need to do?

Fail to prepare, you prepare to fail….is a great saying and is so true.

You have to think ahead, and plan your journey.  How will you start?  How do you intend to conduct yourself?  When are you most comfortable and how will you dress for the occasion? Showing others that you are comfortable in yourself makes the audience relax, and they will want you to do well.

Plan for possible questions that may arise from your audience, know your topic or subject but keep your answer concise and to the point.  Your audience doesn’t want to hear war and peace but does want to know key facts.  If they wish you to elaborate further, then you can say that you are more than happy to speak with them after.

You may stutter, or forget your words but it’s important to breathe, keep calm, pace yourself and keep going.  Winston Churchill said: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”  Be positive and proud and you will get a sense of endorphins being released, because you’ve overcome something you may have been afraid of, for example like doing a sky-dive!

Just be you, see yourself as a whole person, believe and love yourself, then others will love you back!