Fear of Public SpeakingYour Blog Post Title Here...

Did you know that you might not really be scared of speaking in front of a group? In fact, it’s likely that your past experiences – or lack thereof – shape your public speaking ability. The truth is though, that everyone – even expert speakers and trainers – share the symptoms associated with public speaking including nervousness, nausea, sweaty hand, mispronounced words and more.

Did we just make you even more scared than you were before? There’s good news. Not all of these fears are realistic and the ones that are can be overcome with the following techniques. Try them out before your next presentation.

1. Realize fear exists. Yes, that is the first step. Make a list of your fears. Investigate what you are really afraid of and list off the specific things that make you feel nervous or afraid. Then make a corresponding list of all the ways you can cope with these fears such as practicing, building empathy, or giving yourself more time to prepare.

2. Get moving. If you’re normally an active person or someone who exercises regularly, take a walk or go for a jog the day of your presentation. Exercise has positive effects on nerves.

3. Practice both formally and informally. Formal practice in front of coworkers or close friends before the big day can help you feel more confident about what you’re going to say and how you are going to say it. But make sure you rehearse the material, not memorize it. There is a difference between being well prepared and coming across as a machine. Instead of memorizing your speech, commit concepts – not words – to memory. Make brief notes on key topics and points rather than writing out your entire presentation.

Try informal speaking too. Put yourself in social settings that make you nervous such as talking with a group of people you don’t know at a party. This will help you conquer some of your speaking anxiety. In other words, get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

4. Love your topic. You’ll be much more comfortable and feel much more energized if you are presenting on content you are passionate about. Great speakers are typically people that inspire you, incite you to take action or entertain you with a great story. They love the services and products they are speaking about.

Know your material and know your audience. Practice your speech, check out the room in advance, and take deep breaths. Eventually the fear factor will fade.

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