The thought of public speaking is terrifying. Not only do you have to stand in front of an audience, but you also have to be engaging, be authoritative, and know your subject matter inside and out. You need to be interesting and funny. You need to create a connection with your audience. And you need to do all of this without fainting, crying, or throwing up. No wonder you’re scared of public speaking!
The good news is that, like any other skill, public speaking can be learned. Even better, you can learn how to be a good public speaker in a short amount of time. Here are 12 tips to help you stop being scared of public speaking.
1. Know Your Audience
If you’re a first-time speaker, you may not have much say in who’s in the audience. But if you can, it’s a good idea to find out who you’ll be speaking to. The more you know about the people who will be listening to your speech, the better you can tailor your content to be relevant and interesting to them.
If you can, find out the following information about your audience:
• Age range
• Gender
• Education level
• Professional background
• Knowledge of the topic
• Attitude toward the topic
• How many people will be in the audience
• What the room will be like (size, layout, etc.)
2. Know Your Material
After you’ve created an outline for your presentation, start adding in the details. If you’re going to use slides, start creating them. Write out the speaking notes that you’ll use to guide you through your talk.
The more familiar you are with your material, the more confident you’ll be. This is especially true if you’re new to public speaking. The better you know your material, the less you’ll have to rely on your notes. And the less you rely on your notes, the more engaging you’ll be.
3. Practice
One of the best ways to overcome fear is to practice. But don’t just practice your speech. Practice speaking in front of other people. You can practice speaking in front of a small group of friends or family members.
You can also join a club like Toastmasters that will help you get more comfortable speaking in front of others. The more you practice, the more confident you will become.
Practice
It may sound cliché, but practice really does make perfect. The more often you speak in front of a group of people, the more comfortable you’ll become.
If you’re new to public speaking, consider joining a local Toastmasters club. These clubs offer a supportive environment where you can practice your public speaking skills in front of a small group.
You can also practice in front of friends, family, or colleagues. Ask for their feedback and use it to improve your future performances.
Practice
You know the old saying, “Practice makes perfect?” Well, it’s true. The more you practice your speech, the more comfortable you’ll feel giving it.
You don’t have to practice in front of a crowd, either. Just saying your speech out loud to yourself will help you get used to the sound of your own voice and the words you’re saying.
4. Don’t Memorize Your Presentation
For many people, the idea of presenting in front of a group of people is scary enough. Add to that the pressure of having to memorize an entire speech, and it’s no wonder you might be feeling anxious.
Instead of memorizing your entire speech, write out a few key points you want to make and then practice your presentation a few times. This will help you feel more comfortable with the material and can help you avoid any awkward pauses.
5. Take a Deep Breath
If you’re feeling nervous before your presentation, take a few deep breaths to calm your nerves. It may sound simple, but it really works.
Deep breathing helps to relax your body and calm your mind. It also helps to slow down your heart rate, which can help to reduce feelings of anxiety.
One of the best things about deep breathing is that you can do it anywhere, and it only takes a few minutes. Try taking a few deep breaths before you start your presentation, and you might be surprised at how much it helps.
6. Know That You’re Not Perfect
You’re not going to be perfect, and that’s okay. It’s important to know that mistakes are part of the process and they happen to everyone.
But, what if you forget your lines? What if you say “um” a lot? What if you trip over your own feet?
It’s important to take a deep breath and know that it will be okay.
If you make a mistake, just acknowledge it and move on. The audience will appreciate your honesty and will quickly forget about it.
The more you worry about being perfect, the more nervous you will be. So, focus on doing your best and the rest will fall into place.
7. Engage Your Audience
Engaging your audience is a great way to build rapport, and it can also help you to feel more confident. When you involve your audience, you shift the attention away from yourself and give yourself a break.
Asking questions, running a poll, or even getting the audience to do a quick exercise can help you to connect with them and keep them interested. It can also help to create a more relaxed, informal atmosphere. Using a poll maker makes it easy to design engaging polls that encourage participation and provide instant feedback.
Just make sure that you keep the exercise relevant and that you don’t let it take over. You’re still the speaker, and you still need to keep control of the room.
8. Concentrate on the Message
The most important part of public speaking is the message you are trying to get across. It is easy to get so caught up in the fear of speaking that you forget what you are speaking about. This is a mistake.
If you are going to make a mistake, make it about the fear of speaking, not about the message. The message is why you are speaking in the first place. Concentrate on the message and let the fear take care of itself.
9. Watch Recordings of Your Speeches
One of the best ways to improve your public speaking skills is to watch recordings of your speeches. This will allow you to see what you did well and what you could improve on.
Watching recordings of your speeches can help you identify any nervous habits you may have, such as speaking too fast or fidgeting. You can then work on correcting these habits in future speeches.
It can also help you get more comfortable with seeing and hearing yourself speak. Many people are uncomfortable with the sound of their own voice, but watching recordings of your speeches can help you get over that.
Pro Tip: If you’re able to, ask someone to record you while you’re presenting. If not, you can always record yourself using your smartphone or computer.
10. Take a Public Speaking Course
If you’re really struggling to overcome your fear of public speaking, taking a course might be the best way to go.
Public speaking courses are designed to guide you through the process and help you build confidence.
Courses are also a great way to meet other people who are working to overcome the same fear.
There are tons of public speaking courses available online, so you can find one that works for you and take it from the comfort of your home.
11. Join a Group
There are groups where people get together and practice public speaking. This is a great way to get out of your comfort zone and improve your skills.
The most well-known of these groups is Toastmasters. But there may be other public speaking groups in your area.
You can also find public speaking groups online. These are a great option if you’re unable to find a group in your area.
12. Seek Professional Help
If you have severe anxiety, you may want to seek professional help. A therapist can help you work through your fears and give you strategies to manage your anxiety. They may also recommend medication to help you cope with your fear of public speaking.
If you’re not sure whether you need professional help, talk to your doctor. They can help you decide whether you need to see a therapist or if you can manage your anxiety on your own.
Conclusion
The fear of public speaking is a common one, and it’s not something that will go away overnight. However, if you start implementing these tips, especially when considering feedback like OSI reviews vs. Fera, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a better public speaker.