If you had to guess, what do you think people fear the most in life? Is it death, darkness, or spiders? While those things all make the top five greatest fears, the thing people fear the most is public speaking. There is something nightmarishly terrifying about that moment when you stand in front of a group of people and open your mouth. Your palms get so sweaty they leave puddles, your throat grows oddly dry, you swallow and try to speak, but your voice ends up sounding like a doped up toad. Speaking in public doesn’t have to be this way. Just like any fear, there are steps you can take in overcoming it.
One of way to become a competent speaker is to prepare ahead of time. Some people can manage to give speeches impromptu. Don’t try it. If you want to give a good speech and not be so nervous, plan what you are going to say before you get to the podium or the front of the classroom. Make an outline and stick to it. Don’t be one of those speakers that rambles. If you have something of worth to say, say it.
Another thing you might want to do is keep your body still when you speak. Public speaking seems to draw out the most irritating and annoying habits in people. Hand motions and gesturing are fine as long as they are used appropriately. Shifting, adjusting the microphone stand a hundred times, sticking your hands in your pockets, saying um, or arranging and rearranging your hands, quickly notifies the crowd that you’re anxious. Once the crowd knows you’re nervous, they’ll get uncomfortable. Eliminate those nervous habits, whatever they might be. Try giving a speech in front of trusted friends, and have them tell you what your habits are. Then work on eliminating them.
The most important thing to do is practice. Practice by yourself first. Don’t panic if even that makes you nervous, that’s perfectly normal. Practice by yourself until you know your material and can present it well. Then practice in front of a mirror and see if you notice anything that looks strange or awkward about your posture, hand motions, or other body language. If you feel ready, practice some more in front of several friends or family members. The key to becoming a successful public speaker is practice. Rarely does someone start off wanting to speak in public. Even most of the world’s motivational speakers were terrified of speaking at one point.
Speaking in public is something almost everyone is afraid of doing. Relax. Know exactly what you’re going to say, keep still, and practice. Get these three things down and you’re set. Speaking often reminds me of a security system. Just like you will become more and more confident and secure in your speaking abilities with practice, with a home security, you will become more confident and secure in the safety of your home. Now go practice and amaze your audience.
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