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| 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 |
Everyone knows that the fear of
speaking before an audience is universal. Anyone who has ever had to get up in
front of a group of people, regardless of how large or small, knows just what
that fear feels like. You can overcome your fear, and actually use it to your
advantage. If the fear you are experiencing feels overwhelming, and you are
filled with dread every time you get in front of an audience, know that with
some practice and experience these intense feelings of fear will begin to
subside. Don't let your fears keep you from pursuing a fulfilling career as a
speaker. A bit of nervousness before getting in front of your audience is
normal, and you can turn it into a positive rather than a negative.
Ways to Use Your Fear of Public
Speaking:
Ways of dealing with the fear of public speaking varies widely from one speaker to another. It is often related to how they deal with fear in other areas of life. The primary key to dealing with fear of any kind is to avoid reinforcing it with a lot of self-talk about it. You can decrease the power of fear by acknowledging you are feeling fearful, and then moving on to other thoughts and activities. Let it be there, in the background, without getting into a battle with it. Anything you fight against gets bigger. Use the energy produced by your nervousness to add spark and enthusiasm to your talk.
Ways of dealing with the fear of public speaking varies widely from one speaker to another. It is often related to how they deal with fear in other areas of life. The primary key to dealing with fear of any kind is to avoid reinforcing it with a lot of self-talk about it. You can decrease the power of fear by acknowledging you are feeling fearful, and then moving on to other thoughts and activities. Let it be there, in the background, without getting into a battle with it. Anything you fight against gets bigger. Use the energy produced by your nervousness to add spark and enthusiasm to your talk.
Here are some ways to help ease
your fears.
· First, figure out what helps
you relax. Perhaps it is deep breathing, meditation or physical activity. Make
time before your talk to use the method that works best for you.
· There is no substitute for being prepared when it comes to helping you calm your fears. If you are confident that you know what you are going to say, this will automatically lower your anxiety level. Those who speak often will tell you that they now have little or no fear before their talks.
· If at all possible, before you give your speech, familiarize yourself with your surroundings.
· Get yourself motivated; use your fear of public speaking to build momentum. If you are going to keep your audience interested and engaged in your talk, you must have a high-energy and enthusiastic demeanor. We have all experienced a talk where the speaker drones on, for what seems like an eternity, in a monotone voice. If you don't project enthusiasm about the topic you can't expect your audience to be enthusiastic either. You set the tone and energy level.
· There is no substitute for being prepared when it comes to helping you calm your fears. If you are confident that you know what you are going to say, this will automatically lower your anxiety level. Those who speak often will tell you that they now have little or no fear before their talks.
· If at all possible, before you give your speech, familiarize yourself with your surroundings.
· Get yourself motivated; use your fear of public speaking to build momentum. If you are going to keep your audience interested and engaged in your talk, you must have a high-energy and enthusiastic demeanor. We have all experienced a talk where the speaker drones on, for what seems like an eternity, in a monotone voice. If you don't project enthusiasm about the topic you can't expect your audience to be enthusiastic either. You set the tone and energy level.
Tricks of the Trade:
Below are some simple suggestions for dealing with a fear of public speaking.
Below are some simple suggestions for dealing with a fear of public speaking.
· Look out over the top of the
crowd, just above their heads.
· Find something to focus on such as a painting or any other object.
· Make sure you aren't looking down at your notes all of the time. Being too dependent on your notes can actually make you more nervous.
· Be aware of your audience, and notice the reaction of the crowd to gauge how well your talk is being accepted. Make adjustments when necessary. Have a few humorous stories up your sleeve. Humor is a speaker's best weapon for keeping the audience engaged.
· Find something to focus on such as a painting or any other object.
· Make sure you aren't looking down at your notes all of the time. Being too dependent on your notes can actually make you more nervous.
· Be aware of your audience, and notice the reaction of the crowd to gauge how well your talk is being accepted. Make adjustments when necessary. Have a few humorous stories up your sleeve. Humor is a speaker's best weapon for keeping the audience engaged.
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