How To Overcome A Fear Of Public Speaking

Posted on February 24, 2016

Do you get performance anxiety when you need to make a speech in public, be it a large or small crowd?

It’s entirely normal if you’re nodding your head ‘yes’, because even the most seasoned public speakers in the world suffer from an attack of the jitters from time to time.

The key is in knowing how to deal with such problems, having a few methods in your pocket to get you over your anxiety, and recognising that feeling nervous to any degree is entirely normal.

If you have a big presentation coming up, and you’re losing sleep over it, worry no more!

Here’re a few tips on how you can become a rockstar public speaker, and kick those worries to the curb.

So here they are:

Know What You’re Talking About

Preparation is everything, and knowing inside out what you’re talking about is the way forward. Research, research, research! Don’t leave everything to the last minute, make sure you look into your topic and know your stuff well ahead of time, because putting it all off will simply add to your problems and make you more nervous about the outcome. Here at Essay Writing Place, we offer a comprehensive service for students experiencing problems with presentations, providing them with thorough research which is easy to understand and present and developing an effective outline. Having everything you need not only in your head, but also down on paper in front of you, goes a long way to easing your performance anxiety.

Practice Really Does Make Perfect

We’ve all heard this saying, but it is a truth. Stand in front of a mirror and deliver your speech or presentation, or perhaps ask a friend or family member to listen to it for you and act as the audience. It doesn’t matter whether you go over it twenty times, because the more you do it, the easier it will become, and the more confident you will feel – you will probably also feel that you know it off by heart, and that is certainly a great way to cut down on worries and stress.

Think Positive

Before you head onto that podium and deliver your presentation, picture in your mind that you were successful, that you had a standing ovation, and basically that you brought the house down. Positive thoughts bring about confidence, and it is confidence which will carry you through.

Focus On Your Breath

During your presentation, and certainly before, if you feel your heart rate starting to climb, and your breath coming in sharp bursts, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and hold it for a few seconds, before exhaling slowly. Focusing on your breath shuts out the outside word, which in turn shuts out your worries. Before you head onto that podium, practice this method and feel your nerves melt away.

Don’t Focus Too Much On The Audience

The information you’re giving to your audience is more important than the audience itself, so try and shut out as much as you can when you think about the people sat in front of you. You may look nervous from time to time during your presentation, but so what? Nerves can power us to success. Be passionate about the information you’re giving.

Don’t Be Afraid To Take A Moment

If you feel your hands shaking, or you can hear a hitch or wobble in your voice, take a moment to gather yourself, do your deep breathing, and continue. Nobody is going to notice you having a second or two to yourself, and whilst it might seem like an age to you, in reality it is probably going to be no more than five seconds.

Pat Yourself On The Back, You Rock!

Well done you! You did it, and you should be proud of yourself. Even if you had a few minor wobbles, it doesn’t matter, because you got the job done. Take each success as a step towards major confidence in the future when it comes to your next bout of public speaking.

Even the most confident people in the world sometimes stumble when making speeches in public, and it’s certainly not a failing to admit that this is an area that worries you. It’s all about preparation, knowing your stuff, and sometimes about faking confidence. Our presentation preparation service will go a long way to helping you be 100% prepared, and when you know what you’re doing, the rest is easy.