What You Can Do to Lessen Your Fear of Public Speaking
“According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”
– Jerry Seinfeld, comedianForbes Magazine tells us the number one fear of people is public speaking.
This is unfortunate because speaking intelligently to an audience, engaging them, and leaving them with something that will improve their personal and professional lives will do more to advance your career than anything else.
Some people believe technical expertise is what companies prize. They do, but it is much easier to find technical talent than someone with excellent public speaking skills who can positively influence the company’s customers to award contracts to the company.
This week’s article will explore public speaking fear considerations and what speakers can do to lessen fear before and during their presentations.
Public Speaking Fear Considerations
Educational psychology tells us that learning more about something makes it less fearful.
Below are some things to consider about your fear of public speaking
According to Earl Nightingale, famed radio and TV personality, 92 percent of worries are things that happened in your past you have no control over or things that will never happen—stop worrying – most of the time, the thing you fear will not happen
Everyone is somewhat fearful when speaking before an audience; if you are not a little fearful, your presentation will be flat – believe it or not?
You need the energy of being nervous a little bit to be animated in your presentation
Your audience does not know when your presentation veers from how you practiced unless you tell them – Don’t
Realize you are the most knowledgeable about your topic
Fight your fear, or else it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy
Realize your audience wants you to succeed
Armed with the preceding, there are many things you can do before your presentation to lessen your fear of public speaking.
Before Your Presentation
Some of the things you can do before your presentation to lessen your fear are:
Practice your speech twenty to forty times by yourself — what you do in practice, you will do in public
Practice your presentation before an audience of trusted friends – have them honestly evaluate your presentation performance
Have your practice audience ask every possible question that could be asked on your topic; then ensure you have compelling answers to all these questions – chances are during your presentation for any question asked, you will have a ready answer
Visit where you will give your presentation before you speak – this will get you familiar with your presentation’s surroundings (e.g., audio, video, chair arrangement, stage or not, etc.); this also gives you a chance to check out the audio/visual equipment
So, there are things to consider about your fear of public speaking and things you can do before your presentation to lessen your fear.
Finally, we look at what you can do during your presentation to lessen your fear of public speaking.
During Your Presentation
Suppose you ponder public speaking fear considerations and heed what you can do to lessen your fear before your presentation. In that case, you will be well-armed to conquer your fear of public speaking during your presentation. Below are some things you can do during your presentation to lessen your fear:
Transmute your nervousness into body language
Treat your presentation as just one-on-one conversations one at a time with several people (your audience)
Visualize a standing ovation from your audience
So, there are things to consider about your fear of public speaking; things you can do before and during your presentation to lessen your fear of public speaking.
Remember, we sometimes cannot control our circumstances, but we can always control our reaction to those circumstances. Your fear of public speaking is one of those reactions.
Control your fear of public speaking and succeed!
Call to Action
Analyze your fear of public speaking
Take action on what this article says you can do before your presentation to lessen your fear of public speaking
Take action on what this article says you can do during your presentation to lessen your fear of public speaking
“There are only two types of speakers in the world. First – the nervous and second – liars.”
– Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain), American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturerFrank DiBartolomeo is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and award-winning speaker, presentation and interview skills coach, and Professional Member of the National Speakers Association. He was awarded Toastmasters International’s highest individual award, Distinguished Toastmaster because of his outstanding work in public speaking and leadership.
Frank formed DiBartolomeo Consulting International (DCI), LLC (www.speakleadandsucceed.com) in 2007. The mission of DCI is to help technical professionals to inspire, motivate, and influence their colleagues and other technical professionals by improving their presentation skills, communication, and personal presence. Reach Frank at frank@speakleadandsucceed.com and (703) 509-4424.
Don’t miss Frank DiBartolomeo’s latest book!
“Speak Well and Prosper: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Better Presentations”
Available now at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com