{"id":57299,"date":"2019-05-14T08:13:21","date_gmt":"2019-05-14T08:13:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/?p=57299"},"modified":"2019-05-14T08:13:22","modified_gmt":"2019-05-14T08:13:22","slug":"7-tips-tackling-fear-public-speaking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/7-tips-tackling-fear-public-speaking.html","title":{"rendered":"Tackle Your Fear of Public Speaking with These Simple Tips!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Most of us have a fear of standing in front of an audience to deliver a speech or presentation, regardless of the environment or setting. The fear of public speaking is, unfortunately, fairly widespread, and whether you\u2019re standing in front of your colleagues, family, friends, or your classmates, the result is the same almost every time. You stand there, stammering through the speech, feeling your heart in your throat, and trying not let the world see your shaking hands and knees. No amount of practice and preparation is enough when it comes to speaking in front of an audience, but since it is worth every effort to master the skill, here\u2019s how you can tackle your fear of public speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dealing with Public Speaking Anxiety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Below are some basic tips that can help you convey your point without ending up in a puddle of your own sweat like the Wicked Witch of Oz:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prepare for your speech<\/li>
Body language matters!<\/li>
Attain clarity of voice<\/li>
Calm your nerves<\/li>
Don\u2019t hide behind your notes!<\/li>
Smile!<\/li>
Finish what you started<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Now, before you start getting anxious, let\u2019s move on to the tips in detail: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prepare for Your Speech<\/h3>\n\n\n\nPractice Your Speech in Front of a Mirror so That You Can Keep Your Facial Expressions in Check<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re about to give a speech in a few days, and the thought of standing in front of people is making you feel nauseous. Well, the best way to tackle your fear of public speaking is to practice your speech out loud. Imagine you\u2019re talking in front of a roomful of people and use the exact tone, gestures, and content you will use during the actual presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want to monitor your expressions, use a mirror. Want to determine whether your tone of voice is appropriate? Record your voice on your phone and pay it back for yourself. Remember, voices always sound way worse on a recorder than they really are, so focus only on the tone, not the voice itself. You can always get some eager volunteers to criticise you (read: make you feel better and smile) after you\u2019ve given your speech in front of them. This small group could include family, friends, extended family or colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Body Language Matters!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAvoid Fiddling and Slouching to Give a More Confident Appearance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The way you carry yourself and the way you stand in front of an audience can command respect and make them eager to listen to you. For this, it is important to avoid slouching forward over a microphone and to face your audience head-on. Make firm but brief eye contact with the listeners, while standing straight. Avoid pacing, fiddling with your belongings or hair, and crossing your arms in front or behind your back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are prone to fiddling to calm your nerves, clutch your note cards in your hand. Keep your grip relaxed though, don\u2019t squeeze the life out of them before you\u2019ve had a chance to read your cues on them. They won\u2019t grow wings and fly away, and you will not drop them if you loosen your death grip on them slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attain Clarity of Voice<\/h3>\n\n\n\nYou Don’t Need a Megaphone to be Heard, Just be Calm and Clear During Your Speech<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Since you are tackling your fear of public speaking, you should do it right. This includes projecting your voice so that it carries over the audience to the very last person in the room. Along with that, you will need to pace yourself. While your nerves will prompt you to speak at a rapid pace and get this over with, you need to convey your message to the audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speak clearly, slowly, and if you start forgetting your lines, do not try to fill the silence with your stumbling \u2018uh\u2019, \u2018ah\u2019 and \u2018umm\u2019. Pause, breathe, find your way back to the text and continue. Stay in control. Also, do not drone on in a monotone. Vary your pitch to emphasise your points where necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calm Your Nerves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nFake Your Calm Exterior if Your Nerves Refuse to Settle!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Yes, it\u2019s easier said than done! But, is it impossible? Not really! So, how can you calm your nerves? Firstly, drink some water beforehand to avoid a dry throat or keep a glass of water at hand during your speech if you can. Eat something too, if you can, since low sugar levels can affect your concentration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, understand that everybody gets nervous before an audience and you can easily use humour to start your speech on a good note. You can also try breathing techniques to stay calm before and during your speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t Hide Behind Your Notes!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAvoid Reading From Your Notes if You Want to Engage the Audience<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Public speaking is all about engaging with the audience and conveying your message to them. You won\u2019t be able to do that by just reading your speech like a robot from some pieces of paper. The purpose of cue cards is not to hold the entire speech. You should use them only as cues and once you\u2019re on track, make eye contact, smile, engage the listeners and make them eager to hear more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smile!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nA Smile Can Help You Tackle Your Fear of Public Speaking<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re nervous, you\u2019re shaking, you\u2019re sweating and what can make it all better? A smile. Not from the audience (although that\u2019s great too). But a smile from within. A smile for the audience. Even if you\u2019re a nervous wreck, pretend like you\u2019re totally in control and smile through your speech (not recommended while expressing sad sentiments though).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finish What You Started<\/h3>\n\n\n\nFinish the Speech on a High Note, Irrespective of How Many Times You Stumbled Through It<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
No matter how many times you stumble, pause or forget your speech, remember you are noticing all of it way more than your audience. They probably think this is how it was supposed to be. Go with the flow, take each mistake and fumble in stride and finish what you started. Do not let the fear of making mistakes take over. Do not quit halfway. Keep at it. Even the best public speakers get frazzled at times. Pause, take a deep breath and carry on. Conclude your speech properly and enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While these tips might not help you tackle your fear of public speaking completely, they can help you minimise the anxiety that takes over before speaking in front of an audience. Good Luck!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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