PUBLIC SPEAKING

Top 7 Tips To Overcome The Fear Of Public

Speaking And Engage Your Audience
 TOP 7 TIPS TO OVERCOME THE FEAR
OF PUBLIC SPEAKING AND ENGAGE
YOUR AUDIENCE
Fear of public speaking is a gigantic fear that plagues many people. Some
even fear it more than they fear death! Just thinking about standing before a
crowd may give you a queasy feeling in your stomach and make your knees
weak.

However, this is a condition that we can all overcome, and no one has to live
with this fear throughout his life. By showing motivation and perseverance
and following a step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to hurdle this obstacle and
finally face the crowd with genuine confidence.

This comprehensive article will help you overcome the fear of public
speaking and learn how to deliver great speeches that capture the attention of
the audience. Read on to find out what you can do to be the confident person
you’ve always dreamed to be.

1. UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

Public speaking anxiety has various root causes. These elements lead to a
seemingly unconquerable fear that gnaws at your insides each time you
attempt to speak in front of many people. The first step to overcome your
fear is to understand the problem and figure out what makes you afraid. Try
to make a list of the things about talking in public that scare you.

Here are common negative beliefs and misconceptions that persist in the
minds of people who have a fear of public speaking:

I will make a mistake, and I might forget everything that I practiced to

say.

Don’t focus on the thought of making mistakes and embarrassing yourself.

Everybody makes mistakes, but here’s the trick: each time you say the
wrong word or forget a part of your speech, recover quickly and act as if it
didn’t happen. Don’t stop in the middle. Don’t look at people’s faces as if
expecting them to laugh at you, and don’t panic. Most of the time, people
won’t even notice that you messed up a little! If you exude confidence
throughout the speech or presentation, everything will still go smoothly
despite a few mistakes here and there. If it’s a big mistake, correct yourself
immediately and continue your speech.

If you’re going to carry note cards, number them so it’s easy to put them
back in order in case you miss something.

The audience doesn’t like me.

When you look at a sea of both familiar and unknown faces, you might
easily get the idea that the audience doesn’t like you. Hence, you have no
confidence since you don’t think that you can actually deliver something
impressive. You believe the audience might even react badly during your
presentation. However, these are often false, dangerous thoughts that swirl
around your head and pull you down. The truth is, most of the time, the
audience is rooting for you. They want you to succeed. They came because
they wanted to listen and they look forward to hear what you have to say.
They want you to be informative and interesting, so deliver a speech as
though the audience really likes it, and in the end, they will!

The audience will get bored.

Do you find your chosen topic exciting? If you’re excited about it yourself,
then you’ll be able to share interesting things that will engage the audience.
Keep your presentation relevant and meaningful so as to tailor it to your
particular audience. Work on verbal techniques and body movements such as
hand gestures, walking on stage, eye contact, and vocal variety.

Avoid the belief that each and every person should be impressed. One or two
people may look like they’re not satisfied, but that’s okay because you really
can’t please everybody. Your goal is to deliver a speech or presentation in
the best way you can, so don’t worry if two or three look unimpressed. Also,
remember that some people may frown or appear unfriendly although they
don’t mean to do so.

People will not understand what I’m saying.

First, make sure that you don’t speak too softly nor too fast. Practice
speaking in a clear and audible voice that your audience will hear. Deep
breathing is important to support a loud voice and to minimize anxiety. You
may want to mark moments of pause and breaths in your note cards, if
necessary. Next, allow someone to read your speech or presentation and
pinpoint the parts that should be rewritten or removed. A second eye will be
useful in spotting errors and confusing sections. Also, ask your friends or
anyone whom you trust if your speaking voice is loud and clear. Practice in
front of them so they can tell you whether you’re talking too quickly or
slowly at times.

I’m not skilled enough to deliver something impressive.

Negative thoughts such as these reinforce your belief that you can’t be an
effective public speaker but remember, you deserve to be heard. We all have
something interesting to say in our own unique way. There are many people
who fear public speaking who didn’t believe in their capability at first but
learned to improve their skills through perseverance, practice, and
experience.

The art of public speaking is something that can be learned. Even the best
and most respected public speakers today started as beginners sometime in
their early years. Excellent speakers have shared bad moments wherein they
didn’t practice enough and thus failed to deliver a good presentation. Thus, if
you prepare and practice well, you can certainly deliver an impressive
speech. When you get your first few speaking experiences, you’ll learn how
to improve yourself significantly and find out which areas you need to
improve upon.

Once you’ve identified and recognized your stress triggers, the next step is
to face those triggers and to turn your negative thoughts into positive ones.

2. MIND OVER MATTER

We all have preconceived notions about what we can do and what we can’t
do. These ideas play a key role in shaping our real potential and bringing out
the best in us. If you’re a pessimistic person and a negative thinker, then it’s
time to transform yourself into a positive and optimistic individual.
Your inner thoughts have a great impact on your actions and habits; what
you think all day long significantly affect your perception of things. When
you keep telling yourself that you can’t successfully speak in public, then
you’re conditioning your mind to believe that you really can’t accomplish it.
Therefore, instead of persistently thinking that you’re a terrible speaker, tell
yourself that you have what it takes to be a good one.

Avoid self-sabotaging beliefs that linger in your mind as these negative

beliefs hamper you from bringing out your potential, and they only lead you
into a vicious cycle of fear. The belief that speaking in public is stressful is a
self-fulfilling prophecy. You believe and expect that public speaking is a
stressful experience; therefore, it becomes at least as stressful as you
expected.

You have to understand that negative thoughts in your mind are only
messing up your reality. What you believe often becomes real, because those
beliefs have been imprinted in your mind, causing you to act according to
them.

To change your learned perceptions and to reduce your fear, practice the
following methods:

Imagine yourself delivering a great speech or presentation.

Many successful athletes use this visualization technique to enhance their

athletic performance. When they imagine reaching their goals, it becomes
easier for them to accomplish it. Imagining your success gives you an
exhilarating and happy feeling that instantly lifts your mood and even helps
boost your confidence. Our brain tends to recognize fantasy and reality as
the same things. What you feel when imagining something pleasant may be
just as good as the actual occurrence.

Thus, visualize your success often. Be creative and think of what you want
to happen when delivering your speech. You can think of having fun while
delivering your speech, being confident throughout the speech, having
people smile at you, the audience clapping at the end of the presentation, and
friends praising you. These vivid imageries will soon replace the dark clouds
of doubt that hang above your head.
Also, perform a mental rehearsal of your speech or presentation a couple of
times. It will help you remember everything more clearly.

Say “thank you” to the little voices in your head.

We all have those tiny devilish voices in our minds that incessantly whisper
negative things to us such as the following:

“You can’t do it.”

“You’re bad at speaking.”
“Don’t even try it!”

Do you listen to those voices? Do you allow them to ruin your positive
thoughts? It’s time that you stand up to them. Don’t let them attack your
confidence, and don’t let them affect you. Whenever a negative voice pops
up in your mind, simply tell that voice “Thank you for sharing” and don’t
listen to it anymore. Don’t respond nor dwell on them. Shove them in a
dusty room, lock them up, and throw away the key. Just move on and keep
yourself busy with practicing your speech.

Tell yourself that you can succeed.

To further counter the negative thoughts and voices in your head, always tell
yourself that you can succeed. Make it a mantra that will calm and soothe
you whenever you feel discouraged. If you make this a daily habit, positivity
will soon take the place of the negativity in you.

Here are a few lines that you can practice saying to yourself:

 I’m a good public speaker.

 I can deliver my speech smoothly.
 I’m not afraid of speaking in public.
 I trust myself.
 I believe in myself.
 I believe I can do it.
 I have what it takes to succeed.

Believe in yourself and what you can do. Your thoughts will shape your
actions. The right mindset can either make or break your speech delivery.
With a positive outlook, optimistic attitude, high self-esteem, and great
confidence, you’ll find it much easier to reach your goal of overcoming the
fear of public speaking.

3. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, AND

PRACTICE!
The keywords here are “practice” and “preparation,” but it doesn’t
necessarily mean that you need to make everything perfect. What you need
to do is to be prepared and to remember the key points in your speech or
presentation. This will help you avoid worrying and panicking because of
not having prepared well enough. In case you forget something in the middle
of your speech, you’ll know what to do because you prepared for it
beforehand.

Preparation is important in every speech. Remember the old adage by

Thomas Edison: “Genius is one percent preparation and ninety-nine percent
perspiration.” When you know that talking before a crowd is your weakness,
be sure to practice your speech up to 20 times before you finally deliver it.

How to Practice the Right Way

Create an outline that will help you stay on track – If you suddenly forget
what you’re about to say, don’t panic. Breathe in and out a few times to
calm yourself, take a glimpse at your notes if you made some, and get
back on track. Your notes should be well-written, concise, clear, and
properly arranged. Make sure to double check that all of your note cards
are with you before stepping onto the stage.

Tip: Your notes don’t have to contain every word and detail. They should
serve as an outline that will guide you in presenting the most important
points and ideas. When delivering a speech, avoid simple memorization of
the script. Some people rely too much on memorization that when they get
up on stage, they suddenly forget everything that they want to say.
Memorizing a speech word for word also typically leads to a stiff and
“lifeless” delivery.

A better approach is to memorize the entire script and then write around
two or more key lines of text per note card. Next, practice off the top of
your head. You won’t simply read the bullet points; you’ll elaborate on each
point and keep practicing until you master the speech or presentation.
Once you master the general flow, you’ll find it easy to deliver the speech
and even add impromptu details. This way, even if you forget a line in your
speech, you can immediately come up with a relevant idea and continue
your delivery smoothly.

Practice in front of an audience – The best way to practice is to face a

real audience. No, you don’t have to face complete strangers right away;
practice in front of your family, friends and those closest to you. Practice
in front of those whom you trust and whose presence makes you feel
comfortable, then ask them for their feedback. When the time of the
actual presentation comes, think of the audience as people whom you
know. Imagine your closest friends and family as the people in the
audience.

Instead of viewing the audience as one large group, connect with them as
individuals. It’s better to feel connected than to see people as strangers
because it helps your body calm down and relax. With enough preparation,
you’ll feel more confident and relaxed in delivering your speech.

You may also want to find clubs or networks where you can practice
with other public speaking enthusiasts and people who share the same
interests. This will help you hone your skills and get over your public
speaking fear. Share thoughts with each other on how to improve your
public speaking skills.

Keep in mind though: do not over-practice! Advance preparation is great,

but it’s often not recommended to cram at the last minute. You might
actually forget what you’ve been practicing over the past days if you do
this. Half an hour before your turn to present, just sit back, relax, breathe
deeply, and think of pleasant things that will calm down your mind and
body. Believe in yourself, and believe that the audience will love your
presentation.

Record yourself practicing the speech, and review it afterward.

You may record your practice via webcam on your desktop/laptop or a

camcorder. Ask help from a friend to record it for you, if necessary. Later
on, review the recorded presentation to see where you need
 improvement. You may also send it to a seasoned public speaker and ask
for feedback or opinion. Alternatively, you can ask your family and
friends to provide feedback for you.

4. CHOOSE A TOPIC THAT INTERESTS

YOU
Choose a topic that you’re comfortable to talk about and that lies within your
area of expertise. If you’re already knowledgeable about the topic, you’ll
find it easier to deliver a presentation about it. It’s also much better to pick a
topic that greatly interests you and makes you excited. Creative ideas will
come to you naturally if you love the topic that you’re discussing.

Talking about a tough and unfamiliar topic might increase your stress levels
and make you anxious so make sure to choose the right topic. However, if
it’s unavoidable to deal with a difficult topic (for example, if it was assigned
to you), then you should conduct extensive research on it. Make sure to
understand every aspect of the topic. Master it and learn it by heart. Be a
trusted expert who can answer almost any possible question asked about the
topic.

Use an approach that will make you interested about a difficult topic. You
should be motivated to research and prepare for your speech. Take note: The
amount of enthusiasm you put in and show will reflect on your speech. If
you don’t feel interested about your topic, then your audience may also not
become interested about it. Make people feel your enthusiasm; this will be
an effortless process if you already like your topic right from the start.

If you’re going to do a presentation and there’s a possibility that the

audience will ask questions afterwards, then it’s best that you list down
possible questions and provide corresponding answers. Practice answering
these questions to prepare yourself.

As mentioned earlier, preparation is the key. Ensure that you know the
material that you’ll cover. You may want to research online or at the library
to find similar speeches or presentations to give you an idea and inspire you.
Be authentic and apply personality to spruce up your presentation.
 5. LEARN RELAXATION TECHNIQUES
There are various techniques and methods that you can do to make yourself
calmer and more relaxed. Breathing techniques, exercising, and even
modifying your diet a little can all help you deal with public speaking
anxiety. Be sure to get enough sleep before the day of the event and to eat a
healthy and balanced diet.

Here are several relaxation techniques that you can try:

Do the wall push – This technique was popularized by Yul Brynner, one
of the stars on the musical film “The King and I.” The wall push simply
involves standing about one meter in front of a wall, placing your palms
on it, and pushing yourself against the wall. Do this a few times before
the presentation. Some people claim that it’s effective in getting rid of
stage fright.

Deep breathing – Breathing techniques can be learned through proper

exercise and also through yoga. Deep breathing is a quick fix that
releases tension in the body. Here’s a simple breathing technique that you
may practice at home or wherever possible.
 Sit on a chair or lie down to make yourself comfortable.
 Slowly deepen your breath by inhaling and exhaling deeply. This
allows you to expand your lungs gently.
 Count to four when inhaling. Then, count to two and hold your
breath. Lastly, count to eight when exhaling. It should take you twice
as long to exhale as to inhale. This breathing technique helps relax
your body, but avoid doing it if it makes you feel dizzy.

Exercise before the event – Exercise will not only make you physically
healthy; it will also help you feel naturally relaxed. Most people
typically feel good after a good workout session.

Avoid caffeine – Caffeinated drinks include beverages such as coffee,

tea, and soda. Caffeine increases tension and anxiety levels, so it might
help to avoid caffeine intake before your presentation. However, people
have different preferences. If you find yourself becoming more active
and keen to talk to people after drinking coffee, then it may be good for
 you. However, if it only makes you feel jittery and nervous, you should
avoid it for a while.

Get fresh air – Go somewhere clean and relaxing, perhaps the beach or a
park. Take your time to relax and recharge in a quiet environment. If you
prefer, you can bring your note cards with you and practice in the open
air.

There are many other things that you can do to relax yourself. Try different
approaches and find out which ones work best for you. With a relaxed mind
and body, you’ll be able to overcome your public speaking fear more
quickly.

6. VISIT THE VENUE AND BE FAMILIAR

WITH IT
It’s best to scope out the auditorium, classroom, conference room, or
wherever you’re going to present. Practice at least once in the venue. You
can invite a few friends over to watch your live presentation at the venue so
you can get used to the feeling of speaking in front of people. It helps to be
familiar with the setting and to know the audio-visual components available
there.

Are there certain arrangements in the venue that make you feel calmer? If
possible, you may want to ask for special accommodations. This involves
making specific changes to the environment where you’ll be presenting. If
you believe a having bottle of cold water which you can drink from anytime
will help you manage your anxiety, or perhaps a piece of audiovisual
equipment will make things more convenient, then it’s good to request for
such.

Also, imagine the possible worst case scenario. What if you trip yourself
over or you run into a pole? Imagine what may happen and what you can do
to manage the situation effectively. This is part of your preparation process
so as to avoid surprises.

Check the stage/room and find out if there are any obstacles that may trouble
you during the event. The space where you’ll be presenting should be a
comfortable spot without unnecessary distractions.
Remember to get organized. If you’re going to use any audio or visual aids
or props, prepare ahead of time. Go to the venue and see where you can
place these materials and equipment. You’ll be less nervous if your
presentation is well organized.

7. BE THE MOST CONFIDENT PERSON

ON THE DAY OF YOUR SPEECH
Now that you know how to change your mindset to a positive one, how to
prepare yourself for the speech, and how to use relaxation techniques, you’re
ready to be the most confident person to deliver a great speech. Don’t enter
the room worrying about everybody else around you. Know that you’ve
prepared as much as you can, and whatever the outcome is, you’ll continue
to improve your skills and get better.

Follow these key strategies to avoid getting anxious when speaking in

public:

Start strong – Instead of starting with a soft voice, start with a loud and
clear voice. This will set up a lively and exciting atmosphere that will
carry on until the end of your presentation.

Smile – Be friendly and smile! It’s not advisable to act stiff all the time.
Avoid fixing your gaze on the ground or on the ceiling. If it’s appropriate
to make a few jokes, then that will be great to lighten up the mood and
entertain your audience.

Look at nobody – If you find the crowd overwhelming, don’t look at

anybody. You might get nervous if you find one or two people who don’t
have the right expression that you expect. Some people may appear more
menacing than they really are. It could be their natural expression, so
don’t worry too much about facial expressions. Talk as though you’re
speaking to everyone. However, if you find it more relaxing to connect
with people, then it’s better to look at a few individual familiar faces. As
mentioned earlier, connecting with people can help calm a public
speaker. Whether you prefer to look at individual people or see the
crowd as a whole depends on what you find more comfortable when
 delivering a speech.

Don’t worry about mistakes – If you make a mistake, don’t dwell on it

and compensate by making the rest of the presentation better. If you view
YouTube videos of renowned speakers, you’ll notice a few stumbles
during the speech. It happens to everybody, even the best speakers, so
stop worrying about mistakes.

Public speaking is a skill that anyone can master. Even the most timid and
bashful person can be an excellent public speaker with practice and
experience. Many people have successfully overcome their fear of public
speaking, so you can definitely manage your fear as well.

Don’t be disappointed or disheartened if a presentation doesn’t go as well as

you expected it to be. Instead, let it motivate you. With every public
speaking experience, you’ll definitely improve more and more. After your
speech, list down the positive things that occurred as well as the top things
that you’ve learned. The mind tends to focus on negative things, but in
reality, there are more positive things that go unnoticed. Even if you think
you made a mistake or presented badly, there are still positive aspects about
that experience. For example, you may learn the proper speed of talking,
how to remember important lines more effectively, and how to look at the
crowd without getting nervous.

Celebrate your success, cherish every experience, and strive to be an

excellent public speaker! Use the tips in this article to overcome your fear
today. Remember, thousands of people have already recovered from anxiety
problems. You too can control your fear. Just be motivated, keep
persevering, and never give up. Public speaking is a skill that you can master
over time.

CONCLUSION
There you have it! 7 great strategies to overcoming the fear of public
speaking. Simply learn to implement these techniques into your own life and
I garentee you will see an improvement in your public speaking skills.

Thank you so much for reading,

Derek Stanzma