Speak Like A Star
 
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11 Tips To Beat Your Fear Of Public Speaking (Yes, You Can!)
We succeed when we behave in line with the rewards we want, rather than the things we fear – even though facing our fears can often be, well, frightening! Everyone, no matter how fearful we may be of public speaking to begin with, can defeat that fear and reap the rewards of being a good presenter.
I know because I've done it myself. Here are 11 tips to get you started:
1) Make it about the audience, not about you!
Stay focussed on the people who are really important to your presentation: the listeners! They're the ones you should care about. If you pay more attention to the people in the audience, you pay less attention to your fear and anxiety. Remember: you're goal should be to help them, that's why you're there to speak. So it's not about you, it's all about them. And keep in mind that the audience is on your side, they want you to to succeed!
2) Remember, it’s “normal”
Most people, even the most experienced speakers, feel a little anxious before speaking. It’s normal. We’re all in the same boat. And that means you already have something in common with most of the audience – they’re on your side, they want you to succeed and they don’t expect perfection. If the truth were known, they’re happy it’s you up there, not them!
3) Get organised
Nothing beats preparation when it comes to overcoming fear of public speaking. Give yourself plenty of time to think through every aspect of your presentation.
Start with the audience FIRST, move on to what you want to say, then plan how you will deliver your material effectively. (For a no-fail, step by step approach, use my Bull's Eye Model. See the Bull's Eye Basics here; see my Five-Star Speaker Habits here.)
4) Change the label
The mind is a powerful tool. You can use it to change fear (a “negative”) into EXCITEMENT (a positive). Just like a racehorse getting ready to dash out of the starting gate, we are on edge, ready to perform. If we don’t feel a little nervous at the start, we probably won’t do as well in the race.
Keep in mind that the symptoms of fear (e.g. faster heart beat, sweaty palms, feeling flushed) are the same things we experience when we feel excited. Use your mind to change your perception: you are not afraid of public speaking, you are excited at the prospect!
5) Make it meaningful
Talk about things you care about personally. If you are passionate about your subject, you are more likely to lose yourself in the topic and forget about being afraid, especially once you start speaking.
6) Think of it as a conversation
For some reason, just hearing the words speech and presentation seems to create fear and anxiety in most of us. But almost everybody can carry on a conversation. So think of your ‘talk’ as just that, a conversation with more than person.
If you were talking to your mother, brother, cousin, friend, imagine how easily and comfortably you would be. Now imagine yourself having the same conversation with a room filled with people who are interested in what you have to say – no problem!
7) Keep it simple
Avoid putting pressure on yourself by trying to communicate too many ideas or too much information. The best presentations and speeches are short and concise. Try to limit yourself to three main points, don’t cover more than five. Use stories and examples, and facts and figures with which you are personally familiar to illustrate your points.
8) Practice
Always leave time for practice. Going through the presentation several times will help you feel comfortable with the material and build your confidence that you can deliver it well. Use a tape recorder or video camera to tape yourself. When you play back your practice session, you will likely notice that you don’t sound or look as nervous as you feel.
9) Visualize success
Create a mental movie of your speaking performance. Imagine yourself in the starring role, being confident and successful. Just as top athletes do, replay this movie over and over in your mind. Visualizing a good result will make it more likely to happen. You may also find it helpful to record yourself using an mp3 or a DV camera - you might be surprised at how calm, cool and collected you sound and look :)
10) Lighten up!
No matter how much you prepare and practice, mistakes will happen. The most famous speakers in the world sometimes stumble over a word, momentarily forget what they were going to say or run into some sort of technical problem. (Every one of us is only human after all.)
Great speakers often use these as opportunities to create a stronger bond with the audience by making light of what has happened. Audiences love speakers who can laugh at their own mistakes and move on.
11) Feel the fear… and do it anyway!
One of the interesting things I have come to learn about fear is that there really is no way around it. To overcome fear, you really must go through it (see a cool video on the concept of going through it at the link below). It’s helpful to remember that it’s OK to feel afraid.
Keep in mind that while fear is uncomfortable, it’s not the worst feeling in the world. Remember too, that fear can be managed, you can handle it. Finally, the good news is that the more times you go through it, the more confident you become!
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