How to Overcome Public Speaking Fear - Work Smart. Live Smart.

We know that there is one fear that many people share. Fears around public speaking.

Fear and Public Speaking

Maybe you have this fear? You feel light headed, your palms get sweaty, and your stomach has tied itself into knots. You feel like running away rather than stand up and speak to your audience, team, or colleagues.

We call this distinct form of stress and fear related to public speaking, Glossophobia. Fear of public speaking is a common form of anxiety and it can range from slight nervousness to paralyzing fear and panic.

The stress of speaking in public or to a group, can leave many leaders visibly shaken, nauseated and tongue-tied, while leaving their team feeling less than secure about their future. Beverly Beuermann-King Click to tweet

In these economic and chaotic times, it is imperative that leaders communicate company direction and offer support to their teams in an effective and confident manner. However, many leaders are wrought with anxiety when it comes to speaking in public, especially when the message to be delivered is negative in nature.

The fear of public speaking can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy but a few small tips can relieve most of the stress many people feel.

Beverly’s 6 Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Freedom Of Fear Of Speaking Week:

Challenge your fears. What is the worst that could happen? Usually, we let our fears grow from ‘mole-hills to mountains’. Try and keep this experience in perspective.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just need to be able to deliver your message. Preparation and rehearsal will help to smooth out your delivery.
Keep your message to a few key points. This is where a lot of pressure comes from. We want to share all of our information, but our audience doesn’t need to be overloaded. A few key points with relevant examples and stories go a lot further than oodles of facts and statistics.
Refocus. You are the most nervous right before you speak. This is often the moments where you think, “Everyone is judging me. What if I fail?” At that moment that you can refocus your brain. Remind yourself that you are there to help your audience. It is about you helping them.
Avoid caffeine. Coffee adds stress to our body and that is the last thing we need before we deliver our message.
Work out your stress. Try a couple of neck rolls and deep breathing exercises before you go to deliver your presentation. This will help you to relax and focus on the most important goal, which is meeting the needs of your audience.

How To Be A Better Public Speaker

Effective public speakers have a passion for their message, know their material, and are aware of how to take care of themselves to ensure that their voice and their body helps to communicate their message as opposed to detracting from their message. By keeping their public speaking challenges in perspective and practicing good speaking habits , it is possible to decrease the stress associated with public speaking.

If you have some strategies to share – comment on this posting!