Tips to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking

If the thought of public speaking makes you start to shake and sweat. You are not alone. The fear of public speaking and presenting to groups is regularly voted the number one fear when surveys are carried out to determine people's number one fear.

The fear of public speaking is a learned response because we are not born with it. Because it has been learned, it can be unlearned and many people overcome the fear of public speaking and go on to become effective speakers. There are a number of reasons why people face their fear and overcome the shakes:-

- Their job demands it

- To promote their business

- To develop self confidence in themselves

- They like a challenge

- Confident speaking is a great way to get noticed at work

- Speakers are leaders

- Successful executives use the same skills as those used in public speaking

- To promote a cause or club they believe in

To overcome the fear of public speaking apply the following 5 "P's"

1. Preparation

Prepare thoroughly for your speaking engagement. Firstly understand your audience and what they expect. Who are they, their age etc? This will help when choosing your subject. Meet some of them beforehand it is easier to deliver a speech to people beforehand.

Choose a subject that will interest your audience and will be worthwhile to them. Research your topic thoroughly. Your primary source should be your own personal experience and after that read up on topic. Thorough research will make writing and preparing your speech easier. When you are starting out it is easier to write the speech out word for word. If you are going to read your speech, ensure it is written in spoken English.

The more thoroughly you are prepared the more self-confident you will feel. .

2. Passion

Choose a topic that you are interested in and will interest your audience. Your enthusiasm for the subject you are presenting will make it easier for you to speak on the topic and that enthusiasm is contagious. Also, you will have talked about this topic before and when you are presenting you will merely be extending the conversation.

3. Positive

Envision a positive outcome. Create a vivid picture in your mind of a successful speech and keep focussed on it. Just before you go on stage to present take several deep breaths to calm the nerves and really go overboard on your positive self-talk. Tell yourself how great you are. Your audience will respond well to your positive demeanour as you approach the stage and begin to speak.

4. Practice

Practice is of prime importance in building confidence. Practice as often as you can in front of a mirror and in front of your family and friends. Re-write your speech to make it easier to read and to make it more conversational. If you are going to be reading your speech, practice the tone and pace of your speaking. Lift your eyes up from the page. Practice until you are comfortable with the speech.

If possible have a dry run in the room you are going to deliver your speech. This will help your nerves because when you start speaking it will be in familiar surroundings. It will also have given you chance to address any issues with the facilities and the room.

5. Persistence

After you have taken your first step, the best way to overcome public speaking fear is to keep on doing it. George Bernard Shaw used this method to overcome his public speaking fear. To improve on his method, develop a short speech and deliver it frequently.

There are groups and organisations that meet every week that are ideal places to practice, e.g PTA meetings.

The advantages of public speaking to organisations and to the individual make it worthwhile making the plunge to overcome the fear of public speaking. The skills and techniques learnt are the same as those needed to be a successful executive.

In summary the fear of public speaking is a normal fear, but it has been learned and can be overcome by using the 5 "P"s. The rewards are there to be claimed by you in taking the steps to benefit your audience