Does the thought of speaking in front of a crowd unsettle you? Do you panic or feel nervous? Do your palms sweat and your heart starts to pound? Don’t worry; it just means you have glossophobia – the fear of public speaking. And, rest assured; you’re not alone. With proper preparation, it’s totally possible to defeat glossophobia.
Communication is the most powerful skill for personal and professional success. We’ll see how you can defeat your fear of public speaking and become an effective public speaker. The gains of conquering glossophobia are several — you can be a leader, land your dream job, share your ideas in a professional way, and many more. Remember, no one is born an expert public speaker. public speaking is, like all else, an easily learnable skill, if you can invest some time and effort. That is, you too can speak powerfully like any of your famous public speakers – Yes, you can. We all can!
Have a complete idea on what you are going to present. However, don’t memorize your script word-for-word. Because if you miss a word or two, you’ll get stuck, stumble and begin to panic. Instead make a detailed outline and jot down the basic points or keywords to memorize. Include subpoints and the title of your speech. When you know the keywords, the words automatically come to you and you can make sentences around those keywords. This method can be used in essay writing as well. Also, know your material backward and forward before you start. You’ll be more confident when you are an expert on your topic.
Usually, we don’t have a problem speaking with friends, cousins, and relatives. But in a public place, we experience difficulty in speaking. We miss golden opportunities. Why does it happen? How to overcome the fear of public speaking? Let’s see how you can succeed from this difficulty of oral presentations with some of these simple public speaking tips!
1. Memorize Keywords Only
Have a complete idea on what you are going to present. However, don’t memorize your script word-for-word. Because if you miss a word or two, you’ll get stuck, stumble and begin to panic. Instead make a detailed outline and jot down the basic points or keywords to memorize. Include subpoints and the title of your speech. When you know the keywords, the words automatically come to you and you can make sentences around those keywords. This method can be used in essay writing as well. Also, know your material backward and forward before you start. You’ll be more confident when you are an expert on your topic.
2. Visualize Yourself
Visualization is seeing yourself being successful to attain self-confidence before speaking. Visualization can enhance your ability to concentrate, improve your self-esteem, and take you one step near to your goals. Now close your eyes, get rid of negative thoughts, visualize that you are a great speaker and all your listeners are enjoying your stunning speech. This positive thinking can make you feel calm and relaxed. It also reduces stress and keeps you motivated throughout the speech. Affirm the following to yourself: “I am a great orator, I speak well and all my listeners are going to enjoy my speech” Picture yourself as an excellent speaker, imagine that everything goes perfectly. This will boost your confidence. Spend 30 seconds doing just this!
3. Be Comfortable
Be comfortable. Get ready to relax. Right before the speech, your heart could go towards “fear” mode. There are many relaxation techniques that you can practice before your speech. Taking a couple of deep breaths will help reduce stress and improve clarity. Take a deep breath in and breathe out for 2-3 minutes. When you are nervous, you need more oxygen and this deep breathing will get your body back to the normal state. So inhale — hold — exhale! Continue to breathe deeply, gently, and comfortably.
4. Practice in Front of a Mirror
We all know practice makes perfect. So, practice in front of a mirror or webcam. You’ll see yourself succeed. Moreover, you can also be attentive to what you do right and what needs fixing. Make notes on how you can make it better. Check how often you use non-words like “uh” and “um” and carefully work on eliminating them from your speech. Pay attention to your facial expressions, gestures, and body movements. When you have mild expressions and a relaxed attitude while speaking, you will be more welcoming to your audience.
5. Don’t Stop when you make Mistakes
Keep in mind that you are the only one who knows your topic. If you made a mistake or lose track of what you’re saying, don’t stop. Take a moment, take a breath, and go ahead, don’t try to correct at that moment. Move on to the next topic. People are just watching ahead to what you have to share. Try to dump all fears of rejection. The public is there to listen to you for a reason. Actually, the truth is that most of the people in the audience can’t recognize that you are nervous or afraid.
6. Use Simple Words, Always
Eloquence is fundamental to a speech; not information. Always keep your language simple – make it easy for listeners to understand. Because, when people can follow and understand what they hear, they are happier and more involved as an audience. Do not use heavy words; use big words only if absolutely necessary. Make the audience laugh. Adding a dose of humor makes the experience interesting for the audience and holds them to the speech. Also, don’t improvise. It can confuse your audience. Importantly, never use synonyms within a sentence.
7. Memorize Introduction
The audience will be drawn in by the introduction. Just memorize the opening 2-3 sentences. Remembering the introduction can be a good approach because knowing exactly what to say at the opening of a speech can calm you down and put you at ease. Always use positive words, give thanks, and appreciate every blessing that comes your way. And if you have to talk about controversy, try to speak about the positive side of the same along with the negative. When you enter the conclusion of your prepared speech, give time for questions. The audience will be pleased with your performance.
8. Face Criticisms in a Pleasant Way
If you’ve had an unpleasant experience, use it as an opportunity to learn. At every question or criticism thrown, stay calm and respond with positive words like “thank you for the response…”. Never react. The better “you” that you become, the more people will want to walk beside you. Rather than bothering about how people respond, be glad that they’re saying what they say because that indicates you’re on the correct path.
9. Join Toastmasters
Toastmasters is a popular public speaking club intended to strengthen your public speaking skills and overcome fears. You get to go in front of others and receive feedback on what you did good & what you did badly. So joining this club will be a precious opportunity to practice your public speaking skills frequently in a safe, supportive atmosphere.
Remember, the small act of overcoming your fear of public speaking is tremendous. Don’t endeavor for perfection — the public actually loves imperfection. In fact, there is no finish line in public speaking. You can always get better. Be yourself and welcome the fear.
Good luck!