Are You Really Afraid of Public Speaking?

Many people are afraid of public speaking as if expressing their thoughts and ideas in front of an audience is their lifetime challenge. Public speaking is not necessarily an outstanding talent, but the ability to convey orally information, something that we want to share. It is interesting that in writing we are more flexible simply because we have the feeling that what we want to convey is secured and we can control our inner voice.

When it comes to public speaking, things get a little complicated because many people are first of all afraid of hearing their voice and hey fail to match thoughts and beliefs with tonality and rhythm. This gap has a great impact on speaker's attitude. In addition to this match between inner and outer is generally doubled by an external pressure. The speaker perceives his audience as an almighty judge and the moment when he feels losing control, the fear of failure menaces strongly his capacity to organize and structure information. Although you might not consider yourself a talented orator, you could apply some techniques that will reinforce your fluency and the ability to capture and keep focused your audience's interest.

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Dealing With Public Speaking Nerves

Nervousness tends to set in when a speaker is to address their audience and different speakers have different reasons for their fear. Often times it comes down to the simple fact that they are afraid of being embarrassed if a blunder occurs during the speech or presentation.

The best way to get over the fear of public speaking is to be well prepared, but at the same time you should take into consideration that things may go wrong, so you should not be alarmed if something does. Be prepared to implement a plan B if plan A fails so that there is limited room for surprises. If you are to deliver a speech, try to have it written down and practice saying it before the mirror. After you have passed the mirror test, go to members of your family and say the speech for them. Say it so many times that it becomes imprinted in your brain and you do not necessarily need slides. If you do need slides, you should be at a point where the slides only contain summaries or a list of topics, so that you remember what to talk about and the order in which to talk about it. But your speech must be flexible so that you can skip to another point if you are asked a question or if something changes.

If your public speaking involves a presentation; the first thing to do is to ensure that you have all your visual and audio equipment if needed. Visit the venue before the actual presentation and ensure that everything works before time. You do not want to plan your presentation on a visual component and then find out that the electrical outlets at the venue are faulty and you are not able to supply power to your device. The worst thing that can happen when you deliver a public presentation or speech is to go into a state of panic; this is where you will start to make blunders after blunders because you will become more nervous after each one.

The tactic of imaging the audience naked has never worked for me, instead, I look past the audience and try not to focus on anyone person. Everyone can perform this task, but some persons are not aware that they can do it. You can practice it by focusing on an object and then proceed to look past it. This is what you will do with the audience as a whole, they will get the impression that you are looking at them, but you will actually be looking past them and not allowing any one particular face to get you nervous or distracted.

To become better at public speaking, you will need to get used to being in the spotlight, so try to get involved in other similar activities that requires you to get and keep other peoples attention.

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Getting Over Stage Fright While Speaking in Public

You will eventually feel more comfortable and relaxed the more you practice speaking in front of crowds of people. Being nervous is a typical reaction and lasts for a short period of time. But some suffer from constant and debilitating stage fright. Stage fright consists of a tense feeling which does not dissipate or weaken. Most persons do not make it to the stage, others are left speechless and still while staring down at the many faces beyond. This is stage fright and it may take a long time to control it. There are ways in which you can prevent this from happening by practicing a few tips.

Firstly, studying your speech is important. If you have studied it well then there is a lesser chance of forgetting it. It is also important to feel comfortable and at ease with the topic you will be presenting. Make an effort to find as much information as you will need for your speech. You will not have to include it all but if you have knowledge on your topic then you can pull from your memory and add tips to your notes. If you get lost in the middle of your speech, this knowledge will prove very useful. When your audience appears interested in certain things throughout your speech you can speak at length about it.

Practicing in front of a mirror is an age old answer to a current question. When standing in front of a mirror you will be able to grade your performance as a whole and not just rely on whether you know your lines or not. Take note of your hand gestures and posture as these can come across unintentionally lazy and uninterested to your audience. Some persons over-exaggerate their movements and actions while speech-giving. Eliminate excessive hand gestures where you deem necessary.

Gather a small audience at your home with your family and close friends. This is a group you feel comfortable with and won't experience stage fright in front of. Ask your friends and family to take notes of your demeanor, your tone and your gestures and at the end of the speech tell you what you can get rid of or keep. This preliminary speech will help you to gain more confidence in yourself to stand in front of bigger crowds since you have already tested yourself. This also helps you to develop skills with other people and how you relate to them.

Arrive early at the venue in which you will be giving your speech and walk around the area. Take into account how big or small the area is. This will help you to adjust your pitch and volume while speaking as well as prepare you for persons filling the seats. Stand in front of the stage or area in which you will be standing and imagine being an onlooker. Practice your lines and imagine looking out into many people. Familiarity routines like this will help you to feel more comfortable in your surroundings and help you to prepare for your speech. It is perfectly normal to undergo some anxiety and nervousness before speaking in public. It is more important to face your fears and feel confident. These simple preparations will help you to become a more confident and better speaker.

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Key Simple Principles of Public Speaking

Should Not Be Stressful

For one to effectively handle stress relating to public speaking of any degree, the person needs to realize that public speaking is not essentially stressful. Several persons out there have been able to device means of speaking effectively before group of persons with little or no stress. Majority of these persons being referred to used to find it difficult to stand and speak in the presence of many persons, it was so bad that they their feet would wobble, their voice quaking, and every of their thinking suddenly muddled, the end result is that they end up not giving a coherent presentation. In spite of all these, those persons forged ahead and were able to conquer the feet wobbling, quaking voice and muddled thoughts, finally becoming good public speakers or motivational speakers.

You are a human just as they are, such that with determination you can also overcome the stress associated with public speaking, just as they did. It only takes you adopting the proper attitude, right comprehension and the proper use of effective techniques that will help you to achieve this aim.

You Don't Have To Be Faultless

Most times when some persons watch a public speaker doing his or her thing, they kind of think they would never be able to achieve such a marvelous feat, assuming that it can only take somebody who is elegant, humorous, eccentric and entertaining to be a public speaker. Not really, you do not exceptionally have to be any of these for you to thrive in the world of public speaking. One can be a successful public speaker even if you already started out by making mistakes, getting so nervous that could not effectively complete presentations, or even remember what next to say. You can be an outstanding speaker even if you do not include jokes in your presentation, whoever said that inclusion of jokes or being humorous is what makes a successful public speaker.

You only have to concentrate on giving a valuable presentation to your listeners. This is where your success story begins. If at the end of presentation and your listeners go back to their various destinations believing that they have achieved one or more valuable things from your presentation, feeling that your presentation will aid in making them better persons than they already are, having the feeling of being fulfilled and entertained, then you are already a successful public speaker.

Though some also may not have been affected this same way by your presentation, but then in every presentation or public speaking, criticism is allowed and is also beneficial. It will help you to improve and advance to the next level and does not necessarily make you less of a successful speaker.

Don't Go Overboard

Most persons think that for one to be a successful public speaker, one should prepare and deliver an enormous pile of facts. Research has shown that a story or lecture cut short is more beneficial to the listeners or audience than a longer story. Making your presentation minimal will achieve better results from your listeners. Engaging them in a long presentation will only make them become bored and subsequently loose interest in what is being said or done. Always stick to few but powerful points and you are on your way to being a successful public speaker.

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Involving Humor in Public Speaking

Humor is contagious and almost everyone responds to it positively. It is everywhere, in everyday happenings and in lifetime achievements. The easiest way to include humor in a speech is to share experiences with your audience. When used correctly, it can be the most effective tool in public speaking, making your speech educational, informational and most importantly, entertaining.

Public speeches usually include one or two run-of-the-mill jokes, sometimes even a knock-knock joke. Telling simple jokes at any time during a speech is a bad idea. They never translate well with the audience. They will assume that you are as uncommitted and insincere as your joke. These corny and flat jokes usually backfire and you are left with an audience that is no longer interested or inspired by your comments, if they are even still listening. People are smart, and most can tell when your humor is insincere. Most public speakers think this route is the way to go but there are many different ways to entertain and gain attention during your speech by using things other than simple jokes.

There are two different types of jokes in these circumstances. A joke, when told, is a short laugh in return and inattentiveness for the remainder of your speech. And a joke, when told, is relevant to your story or main point and is both funny and keeps all eyes and minds on you. When you use humor that is unrelated to your purpose, this only distracts your audience from the rest of your speech.

Humor, when used correctly, with enhance the effectiveness of your speech. If you are using storytelling as a part of your speech then use a life experience that was both humorous and educational. It is important to think about the importance of that experience and if it is going to be beneficial to your speech. Irony is a great tool to use in speeches as they are not apparent until the very end. It is a great way to keep your audience's attention. Some stories are not obviously humorous, it is up to you to find one that is significant, and find the humor in it.

Humor doesn't only sprout from what you say but by how it is said or even simply, by your facial expressions. If you lack the ability of telling a sincere joke or even an ironic story then let your hands, posture and facial expressions do all the work. Humor is much more than what is said but works in conjunction with physical movements and moments.

Humor can be a method of overcoming your fear. It can also be used as a method of keeping your audience interested in your speech. Most crowds are not fond of listening to public speakers. Use your humor to make them feel comfortable and rid them of their negative or neutral expectations of you. It is also very useful when wanting to appear personable with co-workers, employees and potential clients. Using humor in your public speaking will make you both entertaining and relevant.

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Speaking Up During Public Speaking

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Public speaking scares the life out of many people. Probably more then any other thing they may do in their lifetime. They may have to speak at a meeting in work or as a best man at a wedding or even to a conference, all can be hard but there are things you can do to prepare to help relieve the nerves.

- May seem easy but prepare as best you can what you are going to say. Spend time getting what you want to get across sorted with as much time to spare as possible. Allow time for changes to requirements and for timescales to change. This is crucial if it's a business related speech where things can change often and suddenly. Start with headings for each of the stages in the speech and then flesh those parts out.

- Jokes or funny lines are good but only when they work, be aware how good you are at delivering jokes normally. Be very aware of your audience as well and how they may react to what you say. Be prepared to alter or drop portions of the speech if it becomes obvious bits aren't working or if they may be upsetting or offending anyone.

- Make sure any props you use are working before hand and make sure they are ready to be used, don't cue a picture in if its going to take a minute to appear. Make sure all items are ready; in the correct order and that they are all relevant. Unfortunately it's also worth bearing in mind that sometimes technology breaks down and you may have to survive without it. Good preparation and knowledge of how the equipment works will of course lessen the chances of something going wrong.

- Practise making the speech whenever you can; whether it's to a mirror or to a few selected people will help to calm your nerves. This gives you a chance to gauge reactions to it, change things if need be and to work out how long it will last. If the actual delivery of the speech is a problem then try to recreate the practise in the real place you will speak. Try and think of your audience as only a very small amount of people, even try and think they aren't there. If possible try and get to the location before hand so you can see how people will be positioned. This allows you to judge where to focus and how to deliver the speech.

Above all realise you wont be the only person who gets nervous at giving speeches. Most politicians have writers as well as people telling them how to deliver the lines. They will practise and they will get used to it. Feel free to ask for help and to practise until you are ready. Also unless you are an experienced thespian write down the words, no matter how long the speech don't try and memorise it.

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Prepare Yourself Mentally to Speak in Public

It is very important to avoid negative thoughts when speaking in public, as these will hinder any talent and anybody who has them will not be able to deliver a successful speech. These negative thoughts or mental images can paralyze us, make us lose our breath, make us shake and forget everything. If we are able to identify these negative thoughts, it will be easier to overcome them. These are some of those bad thoughts to be avoided:

- "What I am about to say is worthless, or will be too obvious and everybody will laugh at me..." Do not anticipate any outcome of the speech. It is very common to feel insecure especially if the message to be delivered hasn't been well prepared.

- "I hate to speak loud, I don't like it at all, and it is ridiculous..." To evaluate negatively ones voice and the fact that it may sound improper will affect the way we modulate. Only very few people have an extremely beautiful voice, and most of us range in the normal. The audience is there to evaluate the information, not the voice that is delivering it.

- "I am unable to do it, I can't speak. Other people may be able to do it but I wasn't born with the ability to speak in public": To negate our own capacity and talents will only make things worse. We are the worst and less objective judges of our own abilities and if we negate them from the very start, it will be hard to convince others of what we are capable of.

- "Everything I do, I do wrong. If I ever do this I will fail..." To accept defeat before the fight even starts will lead to an assured fail.

- "I am getting nervous, everyone will notice I am sweating, and that my legs are shaking. They probably can see that my hands are twisting and that my voice is failing me..." To feel nervous is a very natural reaction of the human body. The substances released prepare the body for extreme situations and the hyperventilation or tense muscles are normal. Cicero said that, the more important the speed, the more the normal nervousness.

- "I wish this was over soon, I will speak faster and try to disappear as soon as possible..." To avoid any kind of unpleasant situation will not prepare us for any eventuality in life. Life is dangerous, and not taking any risks is even more dangerous. Those who successfully deliver speeches, who have achieved power and fame did take a lot of risks and could overcome them.

- "I remember the first time I had to speak in public, it was disastrous..." To rely on past experiences is good, unless these experiences are negative. Everybody has the ability and intelligence to learn from past mistakes and try the best to avoid them.

These are some of the negative thoughts that should be avoided. If you feel you are being assaulted by any of these negative mental states, think that you are not the only one who ever had them or who ever will. The secret is to identify them before they appear.

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