No matter how good you are in your field, you can lose respect among your peers if you cannot overcome nervousness in public speaking, say counselors at the Leaders Institute. Fear of public speaking can range from a mild phobia to an overwhelming fear and panic. By taking a few simple steps and taking the plunge to do it, however, you can combat your fear of public speaking.
Step 1
Realize that you know more than your audience in most cases and that they don't have to be alerted to how nervous you are. Trainers at the Leaders Institute report that 90 percent of nervousness doesn't even show outwardly. By taking deep breaths, you can calm a rapid heart rate and ease shaking hands.
Step 2
Arrive early to the location and familiarize yourself with the stage, the microphone and the lectern behind which you'll be standing. Get up on stage and look out over the seats. Prepare for the talk by knowing where you will put your notes, how to use the microphone and what the audience looks like from that vantage point.
Step 3
Find a friendly face in the audience once you begin. Look for someone who nods while you are talking, signaling agreement and understanding. Turn back to those people who laugh at your jokes and seem to be sitting on the edge of their seats in anticipation of your next line.
Step 4
Choose to speak on topics on which you are an expert. By starting out doing public speaking on subjects that you know a great deal about, you can more easily overcome your nervousness as you begin to speak, feeling confident that you know your topic. By concentrating on subject matter you know so well, it can help you forget about your own fears.
Step 5
Practice your speech in front of friends or co-workers who you know will provide you with constructive criticism and support you when you do well. While some people prefer to practice in front of a mirror, trainers at the Leaders Institute suggest that when people are very nervous, they will only find more faults with their delivery if they watch themselves in the mirror.
Step 6
Focus on your topic rather than on the audience. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic recommend that people who are nervous pay attention to the content of their presentation and not the delivery. If you care about your topic and are passionate about the subject, your delivery will take care of itself.
Tips and Warnings
- Take advantage of visual aids. They can give you a break from just talking and give you some distraction so that you're not just thinking about yourself and how you look and sound. Slides, Power Point presentations and videos keep the focus on the material and off yourself.
- Don't memorize your speech because it only puts more pressure on you to remember every word. If you happen to miss a point or lose your place, that can create additional stress that will only serve to weaken your effectiveness.
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