How can you turn public speaking anxiety into a confidence boost?

I agree with this, but also will say preparation helps with navigating fear. What is it that you are facing or talking about? Have you done your research and equipped yourself with the right knowledge to attack the situation?

Have you noticed that the signals in your body during fear feel similar to those you feel during excitement? That's because the "stress pathway" is responsible for both of them: fast heart rate, breathing faster, sweaty palms, etc. We often learn to interpret these signals as 'fear' or 'stage fright' when it comes to public speaking. But, reprogramming ourselves to see these physical symptoms as 'excitement' or the desire to have a good outcome can go a long way toward improving our performance. I've done this for myself, and it has made a huge difference. Now, when I feel my heart rate start to speed up just before I go on stage, I cornily say to myself, "Thanks body for getting me ready to go. Let's go have a great talk!" It works.

When I'm nervous before speaking publicly, I like to remember bad speeches that I've heard in the past. And it turns out that I can't remember a single one. Because we tend to remember extraordinary things and forget the "meh" ones. So, if I'm bad at it, it doesn't matter because no one will remember. ??

There's a myth that people who speak publicly are those who don't get nervous about it - and this isn't true! Everyone gets nervous, those who do it more often just get better at managing the anxiety. I believe that if you're not at least a little nervous, it means you don't care about what you're doing, so the nerves are a sign that you/re on the right path. One thing I do before each talk is tell myself that the audience wants to hear what I have to say. Even if this isn't true, it helps me to calm down and not worry about forgetting words, creating silences, or stumble over my words. You're a human being - and you're allowed to be one on stage too!

I tell myself that I am simply sharing what I have learned with my audience. I love to share! This also makes public speaking fun for me. I you have fun, your audience will have fun too!??

Less, curated, information delivered well is best. You can always have an extra slide deck ready for more detailed questions. This also enables you to be strategic by anticipating questions based on what you left out, which can help build confidence and reduce nerves.

The first step to turn a public speaking anxiety into a confidence boost is to prepare thoroughly before the speaking engagement. A public speaking anxiety can arise from fear of performing badly but prior preparation prevents poor performance, this is because preparation imparts confidence. The next thing to do is practice positive visualization with breathing exercises. Don't think of the worst that can happen, breathe, calm your nerves & think of the best that can happen. Speak positively. To turn a public speaking anxiety into a confidence boost, say confidence-boosting words out loud. Ignore the anxiety feelings & thoughts. Reply thoughts with words and speak yourself to confidence.

Preparation is mandatory. Every great orator ever lived needed practice before every public speaking. The practice is not limited to the content of the talk but also includes the body language and gestures.

Something to remember when speaking and you are the “expert”. You likely know more than 90% of those in the audience. You are therefore the expert, and affording advice or wisdom to those in attendance. Take charge of the subject matter, deliver with confidence. I guess some of us just get endorphin highs from speaking in public.

Visualization is a powerful tool used by athletes and performers alike to enhance their confidence before a big event. Imagine yourself delivering your speech with poise and conviction. Picture the audience reacting positively to your message. By visualizing a successful outcome, you can create a mental blueprint of the experience you want to have. This mental rehearsal primes your brain for success and can significantly reduce feelings of anxiety as you prepare to speak publicly.

Absolutely! I use this all the time in my work as well. When I'm having a stressful day, it can be easy to let that stress show in my body posture, my face, and my voice. Before I set foot in the exam room, or walk into a room with my staff, I will take a couple of deep breaths and imagine that I'm having a good day and about to join a good friend. My tension fades and it's easier for my face to smile and my voice to sound lighter and friendlier.

This is an excellent way of dealing with fear. Visualising problems and how you overcame the problem successfully is very important. Visualising also has 2 parts. One is imagining yourself as the speaker as mentioned here. It's also good to imagine yourself in the audience and the way they would respond to your message. This helps us to get a much clearer and more realistic picture of ourselves.

What I always say is this: don’t be afraid to fail, the secret is to seek fail at the very beginning. The anxiety comes from fear. The sooner you will understand that fails in public speaking are normal and expected, the better. The more you will get comfortable with them, the better. And pro tip: I advise you to find a local comedy club, doesn’t matter if you are not into comedy. Find it, check when an open-mic night is and sign up. Then go on the stage and say a speech, whatever speech you prepare. And bomb, fail miserably, feel the silence, the boooing, experience that first hand. And see that nothing bad happens. It’s all good. This will harden you and give the confidence to go and do it again until you are no more afraid to fail.

Make sure that you’re not the hero of all your personal stories. Audiences relate with you when you are vulnerable. Brené Brown has written a lot about this topic.

I was a substitute award recipient for my foundation, given short notice to prepare. I told the audience I was excited and a little nervous, to please bear with me. It shifted something for me and I felt the audience was supportive and receptive. I’ve learned over the years that being authentic and “real” helps me flow in uncomfortable settings.

Embracing vulnerability can be a game-changer when it comes to public speaking. Sharing personal stories or admitting that you're nervous can actually endear you to your audience and make your speech more relatable. It shows that you're human and creates a bond with your listeners. When you accept that it's okay not to be perfect, you free yourself from the pressure of unrealistic expectations. This acceptance can lead to a more authentic and confident presentation style.

Vulnerability is taking the option to open yourself up with courage. To place yourself in a position of apparent success or failure in front of others requires a bold leap of faith. When you are taking that risk and showing up well prepared, visualizing success, with an open attitude of resilience you connect with your audience. To share your personal experiences with a sense of humor, honesty, integrity and Grace there is no “failure” in my opinion. That no matter the outcome, it is a learning experience and a success by the mere fact you are willing to show your vulnerability and have the courage to put yourself out there in a very public way. Your positive attitude and grace in any situation speaks volumes of your character.

Physical engagement is a practical way to manage anxiety and boost confidence before taking the stage. Techniques such as deep breathing, stretching, or power posing can help calm your nerves and increase your sense of control. These activities not only relax your body but also send a message to your brain that you're ready and capable. By incorporating physical engagement into your preparation routine, you can create a positive feedback loop between your body and mind, leading to increased confidence.

Perhaps this is the nature of the work I do, but I build physicality into my talk to help me process my nerves AND to keep my audience more engaged. I'll demonstrate whatever it is I'm doing, have them do it with me, and it simultaneously helps calm whatever jitters or nerves I have while also getting my audience involved.

If my presentation has 2-4 main points, I like to pick 2-4 spots advantageous spots (each side of the screen, thirds of the room, etc) and then move to them as part of my transitions between points. It adds visual emphasis to the transition, changes your pacing, and helps reset your voice from a monotone.

After every public speaking engagement, take the time to reflect on what went well. Focusing on the positive aspects of your performance reinforces your self-belief and diminishes the impact of any mistakes. This positive reflection helps build resilience and a more optimistic outlook for future speaking opportunities. By recognizing your achievements, no matter how small, you reinforce the confidence gained through the experience and set a foundation for even greater success in the future.

Remember that people are rooting for you to succeed, and you should be too! Ultimately it can be scary to speak and cause overwhelming anxiety, but that’s why having clear goals and strategy helps so much. Positive reinforcement truly helps

Breathe! There is so much power in being able to control one's breathing and tactfully using pauses when anxious on stage. Practice deep breathing to calm your nerves and slowing down your pace of speech if you sense your nerves are taking over. Make best use of pauses to breathe!

One thing that helps is always to put your audience in mind. The essence of Communication is to influence the thoughts and actions of others and if the audience do not connect with the speaker the communication has failed. Audience centered approach to Public speaking helps.

If you have had painful experiences in the past - including bullying, gaslighting or unhelpful criticism at school, work or home - your anxiety is likely to be coming from a deeper place of fear. You're going to need to come into an honest and kind relationship with this part of yourself, instead of just dismissing this as "natural" nerves. Sharing with someone you trust and asking them for positive feedback is a helpful step forward. It's ok to just ask someone to cheer you on!

Whether we are feeling anxious or excited is up to us to decide - says neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett ???? A rising pulse, shallow breath, shaky limbs - they are the physical manifestations of anxiety as well as excitement. What makes the difference and determines how we experience that physiology is the narrative we use to interpret them ?? So next time you begin to feel anxious, take a moment to reframe. It's only your body preparing to rise up to a challenge ??????????? And THAT is exciting! ?? #PublicSpeakingLove

Here are a few useful suggestions: 1. Cultivate mindfulness through practices such as meditation, visualization, controlled breathing, and affirmations. These techniques can help alleviate nervousness. 2. Practice regularly by rehearsing in front of a mirror and with your friends and family. Consistent practice leads to increased confidence and proficiency. 3. Reframe perfectionism by being kind to yourself. Understand that making mistakes is part of the learning process. Focus on growth rather than perfection and learn to enjoy the journey. Go and shine ??