How to get over the fear of public speaking

According to Brian Tracy, the average person ranks the fear of public speaking higher than the fear of death. The truth is, this fear could be hurting your professional and personal life.

Does this sound familiar? Does the thought of speaking in front of people completely freak you out?

Well, you’re not alone and we are here to help you get over your fear.

According to Harvard Business Review, being prepared and being vulnerable can help you overcome your fear of public speaking.

Sounds straightforward right? Let’s walk through it.

- Prepare, prepare, prepare!

Are your fears real? Are you afraid of forgetting your words or running out of time? Or are you afraid a heckler is going to throw a tomato at you?

The first might happen. But there is a very slim chance that you might actually get hit in the face by a piece of fruit.

So what can you do to prepare? Try writing down your fears and really determine whether or not your fears are rational. If they are real, figure out ways to ease your mind. Afraid of running long? Cut out some lines. Calm your fears by thoroughly knowing your material. Know it so well that you don’t have to think about it when you are speaking or gazing out at the crowd.

Being prepared isn’t just referring to your material, it is also referring to the logistics surrounding the speech. Make sure you have the audio and images set up before you speak, so you aren’t scrambling minutes before, or worse during, your speech.

If you are a list kind of person, try making a checklist of all the details that need to be arranged for your speech and go through each of them the day before.

If you like routines, try building a tradition. Pick a favorite song that calms you and try listening to it before every speech.

Everyone prepares differently, but the key is to prepare the way that suits you.

- Be Real, Be Vulnerable

For some reason, vulnerability is viewed as a weakness, but when it comes to engaging with a crowd of people, it can be a speaker’s greatest strength.

Try sharing a story that’s relatable to your topic and build a relationship with your audience. This will have them listening more intently and wanting to engage with the rest of your speech.

Stories bring out emotions, and emotions are what connects. If your audience feels connected to you, they'll feel more engaged and open-minded to what you're saying.

Your fear is your worst enemy. If you can control the fear by being prepared and by being vulnerable, you are already on your way towards a strong presentation.

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