Public Speaking Anxiety Guide |
Public speaking anxiety is very common among speakers and will express itself in many different ways including; increased heart rate sweaty hands, trembling and even nausea. Not everybody encounters all of these symptoms however they all face the same difficulty of beating the anxiety. And while the process of overcoming may seem difficult, anyone who has the determination and willpower to stay the course will triumph.
There are any number of causes of why your anxiety and fears rear their head when you are presenting and speaking in public, most of these fears are self imposed or brought on by how were raised and/or our confidence levels. Some of the most common causes and reasons of public speaking anxiety are listed below.
- Lack of confidence in your speaking abilities and oration skills.
- You may be scared of making mistakes or errors and being embarrassed.
- Worried that you are not skilled enough to get your point across to your audience.
- Fear that your peers or audience are critiquing or judging you unfairly.
- You are not comfortable with the content or information you are presenting.
- You are afraid of not being able to connect with who you’re presenting to.
In order to overcome your public speaking anxiety. You will first have to begin by making some changes to the way you think. First, don’t jump to conclusions. Not everybody is out to get you and you are doing your audience an injustice by assuming that they do not like you or trust you. Give them the benefit of the doubt and you will be surprised at the outcome.
Get your audience involved with your presentation and keep the room energized. You can do this by making eye contact and asking your audience questions. Also you can raise and lower the volume of your speech to emphasize key points or to regain your audience’s interest.
Being in the spotlight and on stage is not the easiest place to be, nor is it the most comfortable. Your body reacts to the public speaking anxiety you feel when you go on stage and that feeling is why so many people are afraid of public speaking.
That feeling is a perfectly normal part of public speaking and it will diminish with practice. The more you get out there and speak the faster your public speaking anxiety will fade away.
Dynamic Speaking Tip #1
While there are times in your life when you need to be cold and distant, public speaking is not one of these times. Passion and warmth are fundamental tools in a dynamic speaker’s toolbox. Let your positive feelings for your subject and your audience bleed through into your presentation and your audience will respond to you as if they were under a spell. |
Dynamic Speaking Tip #2
Remember that practice makes improvement, not perfect. Only by rehearsing your speeches and practicing your skills and delivery techniques will you be able to improve. Do not neglect your practice just because it is not glamorous or is boring. It is the fundamentals that allow you to become a dynamic speaker. |
Dynamic Speaking Tip #3
During your quest to become a dynamic speaker you will also get the opportunity to learn more about yourself, you strengths and your weaknesses. By using that new found knowledge you can then target those areas that you need more work on and improve them until they become a strength. Doing this is one of the secrets of a dynamic speaker’s success. They are always learning. |
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