Public Speaking Skills such of an important things, how can we improve our Public Speaking Skills? Below we will tell you how:
Public Speaking Skills : Overcome Your Fear! – Part I
Almost each one of us has some kind of fear—fear of failure, disaster, poverty, etc. But if you’re someone who at the thought of ‘speaking to an audience’ feels shivers down your spine, I have some good news and not-so-good news for you.
“According to most studies, people’s Number One Fear is Public Speaking. Number Two Fear is death. Death is number two! Now, this means, to the average person, if you have to go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy!!” – Jerry Seinfeld
The good news—you’re not alone. Glossophobia or the fear of public speaking exists in as many as three out of every four people. The not-so-good news—being glossophobic will not do much for your career as leaders.
But don’t give up yet.
Some of the world’s greatest speakers – including John F Kennedy (“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”) & Winston Churchill – were once glossophobic.
What causes the fear of Public Speaking?
It’s when we make mistakes (and make a fool of ourselves), or when the audience doesn’t like us (or our message) that cause us to ‘lose face’. This is why being in front of an audience gives us the chills; we fear the embarrassment and shame that ‘might’ happen as a result of goofing up.
We don’t like anyone putting a negative judgment on us, especially those we work with or meet daily.
Overcoming Your Fear to Speak in Public
Our body reacts when we feel fear—adrenaline is released; increasing our heartbeat and respiration, leaving us feeling ‘nervous’. However, this reaction also sends more blood (and oxygen) into our muscles; giving us more energy and making us feel stronger.
With adrenaline in your body, we have greater energy to either fight or flight (run away from) our fears. And since we can’t stop the release of adrenaline, here’s how to use it to our advantage.
Instead of worrying ‘what will happen if the audience doesn’t like me or my message’ and ‘how will I look if I make a mistake’, use this ‘additional energy’ to stay alert, project your voice further, have greater control over what you are saying, and have a better posture.
Conditioning Our Minds
The next step is to consciously condition our minds to 1) block out the fear, 2) think positively about the outcome and 3) believe we are confident speakers.
How can we do this it?
Simply by repeating to ourselves, “I’m a confident speaker!”
Over a period of time, you would have convinced your subconscious mind of your goal, whatever it may be (in this case to be a confident speaker). And once you believe you are confident, you will be confident.
Those of you new to this may think this technique is too simple to be true. It is simple. But if you ask those who’ve used it, you’ll learn that it’s also powerful!
Once you’ve eliminated the fear, you’ve overcome the biggest hurdle in public speaking and are on your way to becoming a confident speaker!
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