Public speaking is among the most common phobias shared by people throughout the Western world. Many people experience fear of talking in front of a large group, and this fear can be evident through tremors, wavering voice, sweating, stuttering and anxiety. If the fear is too much to control, it can be a detriment to your speech and even be a detriment to your career. Numerous self-help books have been scribed with the goal of helping individuals get over their fear of public speaking, but there are a few simple tips that can get you well on your way to conquering your fears.
Step 1
Prepare yourself extensively before giving your presentation. A lack of familiarity with your material and your routine can set you up for discomfort in front of the group, and if things start to go poorly, your fear of failure can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Practice and repetition of your speech and presentation will make you more comfortable on stage. It will minimize the risk of losing your place or freezing up, and you will have more confidence in your abilities as a result.
Step 2
Utilize visual aids in your speech. For those whose fear amplifies with large numbers of eyes on them, visual aids such as posters, videos and slideshow presentations can have a distracting effect. The focus becomes averted, at least temporarily, from you to the visual aids. The aids also can help you remain focused and on track and can serve as reminders of topics or points to hit, serving as a great benefit if you become flustered.
Step 3
View yourself as the authority. If you are giving a speech, it's almost always because you are regarded as an authority figure on the subject. View yourself as such and "talk downhill"--speak as a teacher, not as someone seeking to impress a group of individuals. If you have prepared, you will have more knowledge than the people taking in your presentation.
Step 4
Be specific with your presentation and the facts you discuss. Rather than trying to convey a large amount of information or ideas in a short window of opportunity, focus on details and try to explain this information as thoroughly as possible. If your efforts get too big, the people listening to your speech will come away confused by trying to absorb too large a concept or amount of information in too little time, and it will negatively affect the impact of your speech--not to mention overwhelming you by having to prepare for questions on such an immense subject.
Step 5
Speak as yourself. Don't try to be the speaker you think you should be, or the speaker your subjects want to hear. Talk as yourself. Be relaxed and informal when the opportunity strikes--in many educational speech scenarios, casual moments to relieve tension and loosen the crowd are often encouraged. Don't envision yourself as a public speaker--think of you as you are, and the crowd as a group of people interested in hearing what you have to say.
Tips and Warnings
- If you suffer from a severe case of stage fright, consider checking out or purchasing a self-help book to overcome your fear of public speaking.
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