Public speaking is one of the most common fears that people face. It can trigger anxiety, self-doubt, and even panic attacks. But it doesn't have to be that way. As a life coach, you can help your client overcome their nervousness and shine on stage. Here are some tips to guide them through the process.
The first step to help your client cope with their fear of public speaking is to understand what triggers it. Is it a lack of confidence, a bad experience, a fear of judgment, or something else? By identifying the root cause, you can help your client address it and find ways to overcome it. For example, if your client is afraid of forgetting their speech, you can help them practice and memorize it. If they are worried about the audience's reaction, you can help them research and tailor their message to their needs and interests.
Helping a client shine in public speaking involves tailored strategies. Start by understanding their specific fears and strengths. Offer techniques like visualization, deep breathing, or structured rehearsal to build confidence. Encourage them to focus on the message, not perfection, and practice speaking in supportive environments. Providing constructive feedback and celebrating progress boosts their confidence and helps them shine when speaking publicly.
What we speak reflects who we are. Many of us feel nervous about sharing our thoughts with a large audience and exposing ourselves. To ease this anxiety, we should embrace our own thoughts and opinions and get comfortable with who we are. Engaging with the public through a comfortable medium like YouTube allows us to express ourselves with edited content. Testing the waters in this manner helps us become familiar with public responses and make necessary corrections. This gradual process can make us more at ease when speaking to a direct audience.
in my opinion, coaching is just effective listening and asking powerful pertaining questions. understanding the root cause is the first and final step by a coach, the rest will come out from client and just we should believe the best answers and solution is JUST by client.
I suggest record themself, play it back and pay close attention to what they see in the video such as their tone of voice when they talk, their appearance, are they smiling? Do they sound exciting or dull? 2. Write out their message, but start with * a question * a story * statistics * they can use their own personal story * use props 3. Rehearse the message 4. Write out points on 3x5 index cards 5. Go back and record again saying the message this time with the index cards, as if they’re talking to a particular audience. It’s important to know that the audience attention needs to be grabbed within the first 3 minutes of that message or you will lose them.
Practice makes perfect!!! Come out of your comfort zone and talk in public then grow a larger audience each time. It's all about the confidence. You must know what the information is that you are delivering. I prefer to keep things short and sharp and engage with the audience. There is nothing worse than watching someone read from cue cards or an A4 piece of paper. Structure is also so important. Be relatable and add in previous experience.
The second step to help your client succeed in public speaking is to help them prepare and practice their speech. Preparation involves choosing a topic, writing a clear and engaging script, and creating visual aids if needed. Practice involves rehearsing the speech out loud, using a timer, and recording yourself. You can help your client by giving them constructive feedback, pointing out their strengths and areas of improvement, and suggesting ways to enhance their delivery. You can also help them practice in front of a small and supportive audience, such as friends or family, before the big day.
Practice is the only way to really lose the jitters and then focus on the content and delivery, instead of on yourself and your nerves. A recent client took on a big goal; interviewing people on LinkedIn Lives; one each week for 12 weeks. In the beginning it was all about nerves and technology; with notes and not at all comfortable or focused on delivery. Each week this client followed the process I prepared and by the 9th week she was flying high; no nerves at all! This client must WANT to get OVER this hump more than anything! They must be willing to do it without knowing 'how' and trust the process which I have used for hundreds of trainings, Do ONE thing and do it in spaced intervals over time ,... PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!
1. Find a role model - Identify a speaker you really enjoy, study that person and understand what makes that speaker engaging and see what you can apply into your own style - while making it your own. 2. Uncover success in your organization - What are some cultural norms or expectations of successful presenters in your organization in terms of body language, dress, way of speaking (including proper vocabulary), visuals (PPT templates, etc), and others and ensure your presentation style reflects some of the organizational markers of success. 3. Record (audio AND video) yourself talking about something you are interested in, casually, then record yourself giving your presentation. Ask colleagues or mentors for feedback, fine tune as needed.
Preparing and practicing are essential steps to help your client overcome the fear of public speaking. Encourage them to choose a topic, write a clear script, and create engaging visual aids. Support them in rehearsing their speech, using a timer, and recording themselves for self-evaluation. Provide constructive feedback, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. Suggest techniques to enhance delivery, such as voice modulation and body language. By emphasizing preparation and practice, you can boost their confidence and help them shine on stage.
In my experience, have them chose a topic they enjoy such as a hobby or special interest, have them video record for 3 minutes. Usually people enjoy talking about personal things more. Give them a check list that will help them critique their recording. Let them record another time to improve the first one. Until they feel happy with the final. Now they will be ready to present work-related topics.
Speaking is like any skill. The more you do it, the better you get. I cannot recommend joining Toastmasters enough. It’s set up to give you the practice you need to be a great speaker. It’s just a matter of how much you want to put into it. And at roughly $10/month, it’s a downright bargain!
The third step to help your client cope with their fear of public speaking is to help them manage their anxiety before and during the speech. Anxiety can affect your client's physical, mental, and emotional state, so it's important to help them calm down and relax. You can help your client by teaching them some breathing exercises, meditation techniques, or positive affirmations that they can use to reduce their stress and boost their confidence. You can also help them by reminding them of their purpose, their value, and their achievements, and by encouraging them to focus on the positive aspects of their speech.
Techniques like visualization can also be highly effective. Encourage your client to visualize a successful speech, focusing on the details – the applause, the positive reactions, and the feeling of accomplishment. This mental rehearsal can build confidence and reduce anxiety. Moreover, physical exercises like yoga or light stretching can help in managing the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as muscle tension or an accelerated heartbeat.
Effectively managing anxiety while speaking in public involves a multifaceted approach. Thorough preparation and practice instill confidence, while controlled breathing serves as a calming anchor. Visualizing positive outcomes reframes your mindset, and engaging with the audience establishes a supportive atmosphere. Embracing imperfections as part of the process alleviates undue pressure. Redirecting focus from self-conscious thoughts to the importance of your message helps maintain composure. By incorporating these strategies, you can navigate public speaking with greater ease, turning anxiety into a catalyst for impactful communication.
People with speaking anxiety often say they want to be calm when they speak. However, that goal usually just reflects a pattern of opposite thinking - what's the opposite of anxious? Calm! And how will they measure of they are calm? By not feeling anxious - which puts the attention on anxiety. And energy flows to where attention goes. Public speaking requires a generally high energy state to connect with the audience. So, tailor-made energy states are so very useful for channeling that energy of anxiety into something of energy for speaking.
Visualizing your desired results work a lot. By imagining how it looks like to succeed on stage, you also get to harness feelings that are associated with it. Allow yourself to bask in that moment and feel as if it already happened. That way, when by the time go pnstage, you are already shining.????
The journey begins by helping the client find inner calm through centering and grounding techniques, establishing a resilient foundation. Delving into intentional breathing exercises fosters composure, fortifying the speaker's ability to stay calm and collected. Visualization plays a pivotal role, shaping a positive mindset and envisioning successful speaking engagements. The incorporation of power poses and nuanced body language further enriches the strategy, ensuring the speaker projects confidence. Setting positive intentions is one of the most powerful ways of scripting the outcome :) This amalgamation of techniques transforms anxiety into a catalyst for confident and poised public speaking.
The fourth step to help your client shine in public speaking is to help them engage the audience and create a connection with them. Engagement involves using eye contact, body language, voice modulation, and humor to capture the audience's attention and interest. You can help your client by showing them how to use these tools effectively and appropriately, and by giving them examples of good and bad practices. You can also help them by teaching them how to handle questions, feedback, and criticism gracefully and professionally.
Getting rapport with the audience is also about capturing the intention, wants and needs of the grouping. It's also about speaking their language and respecting their model of the world. Rapport with the audience if crucial for engaging the audience.
This must start even before you start speaking. Tell your clients to be present before your audience and greet them personally if it's possible. Build connection and rest will follow.
One tip for eye contact is to be aware of the room. If possible follow these steps: Assess the room before anyone else enters (arrive early!) Walk around the room to get a feel of the room. Across the back of the room, stand at far left, then centre then far right. Consider, what the attendee will see when they are sitting in that spot. Repeat the same exercise, half way up the room, then at the front. Then stand at the front and if possible practise walking across your stage and looking at each of the points you previously stood at. Imagine there is a person sitting there, make that eye contact. When you are delivering LIVE, this small prep activity will come into its own and help you to make eye contact and to connect.
Teach your client the art of storytelling. A well-told story can make the speech more relatable and memorable. Encourage them to include personal anecdotes or relevant stories that align with their main message. This not only captivates the audience but also gives the speaker a more natural and comfortable way to convey their points. Additionally, stress the importance of feedback. Practicing in front of peers or a coach and receiving honest feedback can significantly improve their engagement skills.
In my experience, starting with a smile, will open the channel of communication with the audience. Asking questions, storytelling that are related more to the specific audience will help engage them. The attitude which is we are learning together or sharing knowledge / experience is different than ‘I know more and telling or lecturing you’.
The fifth step to help your client grow as a public speaker is to help them learn and improve from their experience. Learning involves reflecting on the speech, evaluating the results, and celebrating the achievements. You can help your client by asking them to write down what went well and what could be improved, and by giving them your honest and supportive feedback. You can also help them by acknowledging their efforts, praising their progress, and rewarding their success. Improvement involves setting new goals, seeking new opportunities, and applying new skills and strategies to become a better public speaker.
The best way to improve our skills is through self-assessment. The first step towards improvement is the identification of weak areas. Once we learn to assess ourselves, we are then in sync with our tendency towards improvement. This may seem like very old book style, but it works: stand in front of a mirror, speak (without caring right or wrong), record it, and then watch your body language, your presentation, your smile, and your confidence. Write down the areas you feel are not as per your expectations. Seek advice or search for videos of public speaking, and then update yourself accordingly. It really works. I have tried and tested and have been delivering.
If possible, it’s helpful to have clients record their presentations. Such data can help clients reality test really happened in their performance, especially if they seem to be overly critical of themselves. It can also provide an opportunity for clients to highlight which specific aspects of nonverbal communication, like tone of voice, mannerisms, body posture, etc. helped them seem engaged and relatable to their audience.
When there is improvement in learning, the whole thing becomes easier. For a client who wants to become a life coach, they have to spend a lot of time learning from the errors they made in their previous speeches so that they can improve subsequently. Reading, practicing, and developing oneself, will help one improve in the delivery of a speech. That is why, re-evaluating is important. Taking steps to ensure that one corrects a previous mistake will go a long way to improve a subsequent public speaking outing. Being committed to improving oneself is the way to becoming a better coach.
Feedback: Encourage feedback from peers, mentors, or even recordings of their speeches to identify areas for improvement. Continuous Learning: Offer resources on public speaking techniques, storytelling, or charisma-building to refine their skills.
To help a client shine in public speaking, I would guide them through effective preparation techniques, including practicing their speech regularly. Encourage them to focus on the message rather than perfection, and provide strategies for managing nervousness, such as controlled breathing and positive visualization. Additionally, constructive feedback, gradual exposure, and celebrating small successes can boost their confidence and enhance their public speaking skills.
In my personal experience, and from my work with clients who have this challenge, the key to overcoming fear of public speaking is having a crystal clear intention for why you are going on stage. If the goal is solely to perform and shine, it becomes a self-directed goal. This often leads to increased anxiety. However, if the goal is to deliver as much value as possible, fear transforms into gratitude. It becomes about appreciating the opportunity to speak in front of an audience. Of course, this should be backed up with practice and preparation. By focusing on others instead of ourselves, the event will turn into an enjoyable experience.
1.Practice - Fears can be unlocked with practice . Speaking aloud , in front of mirror helps ALOT. 2.Make it real -Weave a story of your own. Stories with personal touch are never a flop show. 3.Keep a mindset that "Nobody is perfect in this world" and mistakes are just learnings.
TEN PRACTICAL RULES THAT ‘MADE ME FLY’ ON STAGE I transformed into a keynote speaker on design thinking innovation, performing all of the world. That’s why I like to share with you ten practical rules to become a great keynote speaker too: 1. Understand your audience by knowing what’s keeping them awake at night. 2. Tell stories. 3. Use gestures purposefully. 4. Entertain and use humour to break the ice. 5. Vary tone, pace and volume. 6. Be genuine and share personal anecdotes to humanise your presentation. 7. Be passionate. 8. Exaggerate as a real actor would do. 9. Dress up, fitting your subject and personality to create more impact. 10. Talk to one person (in mind). Lots of success! #keynote #keynotespeaker #speaker #topspeaker
The tag line of an ad says 'dar sabko lgta hai gla sabka sukhta hai'? meaning we all feel fear so I'd start by acknowledging their feelings and normalizing the nervousness. Then, we'd work on specific strategies, like breath control and visualization, to manage anxiety. Crafting a well-structured and engaging presentation, along with ample practice, boosts confidence. Encouraging them to focus on the message, not perfection, shifts the mindset. I'd also suggest incorporating personal anecdotes to connect with the audience. Gradual exposure to public speaking, starting with smaller settings, helps build confidence. Lastly, emphasizing that authenticity resonates more than flawless delivery empowers them to shine naturally.