4 Ways to Overcome the Fear of Speaking in Public

Dr. Gary Arnold's Book
How the Top 1% of Speakers and Coaches Do Internet Marketing
Paperback: ISBN:978-1-57867-041-3; eBook: ISBN:978-1-57867-043-7
 

Does the stage frighten you? Well, that is nothing to feel embarrassed about, because you are not alone. In fact, for many individuals, even the fear of death is not as great as the fear of speaking in front of a live audience. Did you know that many famous personalities and celebrities have admitted to being terribly frightened by taking the stage and being the center of attention? So, it is not that accomplished speakers do not experience fear, but that they have learned to overcome the fear of speaking in public. Here are 4 ways you too can overcome your fear of public speaking.

#1 Face your fear.

The first step in overcoming any fear is to face it. It is common knowledge that the mind tends to develop fear in conjunction with anything that is new or unfamiliar. So begin to immerse yourself in public speaking by learning more about it, and beginning to practice at home or in a safe environment. That is the way to ease the fear, and it is certainly the stepping stone to all other ways to overcome the fear of speaking in public.

#2 Take baby steps in the beginning.

Small beginnings are best, and will definitely help boost your self-confidence. Do not attempt to face a huge audience in the beginning. Start with a small group of people, say about 3 or 4. Another method of ensuring that you do not fail in front of the audience is to choose your audience carefully. Begin by speaking to a small group of people, with whom you feel comfortable and relaxed. You may want to start with members of your family and your friends first.

Once you gain confidence in this small and comfortable group, you can gradually go on to a larger audience. While increasing the size of your audience, it will be helpful if you begin to include strangers. By taking these small steps you will find that you will become increasingly comfortable in front of an audience.

#3 Practice, practice, practice.

No doubt you have heard the old saying, "Practice makes perfect." Now is the time to start implementing it. No skill can be perfected without practice, and lots of it.

Begin with your bathroom mirror. Imagine your audience is seated within the mirror and start rehearsing your speeches there. Once you develop a bit of self-confidence by doing this, slowly graduate to rehearsing mock speeches in front of your family members. Ask them to give you an honest rating each time they hear you speak. Accept, and welcome, all suggestions that they give to improve your speaking skills. If you have access to a video recorder, record your speech and then view it. This can be an invaluable tool for enhancing your skills and overcoming your fears.

#4 Acknowledging your progress will help you stay the course.

While in the process of overcoming your fear of public speaking, it is important to avoid being harsh with yourself. Remember that you are not alone in experiencing these feelings; in fact, they are universal so welcome to the club. Beating yourself up will not serve you on your path toward becoming an accomplished, confident speaker.

Do you know the major difference between a successful person and an unsuccessful one? It has nothing to do with extra talent, ability or luck. The unsuccessful person gives up when first attempts don't come easily, while the successful person perseveres until their goal is reached. So keep trying, don't give in to the temptation to give up. Success may be just around that next corner-reach for it!