Overcome your fears of public speaking.

Being able to speak confidently before an audience, whether it is a speech or in a meeting, is seen as a crucial skill in business. However, this skill does not come as easily to everyone, there are some people who naturally feel confident on a stage, but for most of us, standing before a group goes together with an increased heart rate and different fears of public speaking. That is why in today’s article I will discuss three fears and give tips on how to overcome them.

1)???? Standing in the spotlight and getting all the attention

Oftentimes the worst fear people have about speaking for a public is that all eyes are upon them. Everyone will intensely watch every word and every gesture. Added to this is the pressure of expectation and this gives us a fight-or-flight response.

However, there are tips to overcome this. First, it is not about neglecting these feelings but acknowledging them because it is very normal to feel this way and you can use this pressure to perform better. Having a little pressure on you beforehand might make you prepare better. Next, try to focus your attention on the message, instead of you. What you want to bring across is in the message and that is what the audience will be looking at. Practicing your presentation before a small group of friends or family will also help you boost your confidence. Lastly, I know attention can be frightening, but looking from another direction, it is positive that everyone gives you this attention. It means they are interested in what you are going to say and that is way better than if you had zero attention from your audience.

2)???? The fear of getting judged

Another fear that will keep people off the stage is the fear of getting judged. Because that is what humans naturally tend to do. They will form an opinion off you, even before you have said the first word of your presentation. This can in turn cast a shadow over the speaker’s confidence. Luckily, there are ways to overcome this fear.

First, you should realize that this fear is rooted in the human instinct. We want to be socially validated and belong to a group. However, this is where I will introduce what I call ‘the golden triangle.’ Imagine a triangle with at each point respectively you, your presentation, and the audience. Why is this important? Because most of the time the judging happens over the axis from audience to presentation, not from audience to you. People might judge your presentation or your message, with which they might not agree. However, do not take this personal because you are much more than just your presentation.

Secondly, understand that not every judgement is necessarily negative. Some positive remarks can boost your confidence as a speaker and constructive criticism can also be seen as judgement, but it is a valuable form of judgement if you are open to it. Try to internalize this feedback and become a better speaker because of it.

3)???? The fear of forgetting what to say.

Imagine yourself on a stage, in front of people who expect a brilliant presentation, and just then you do not remember what to say. I do not have to tell you that it is a common fear. This ‘blanking’ can cause awkward silences and you might lose credibility along with your confidence. However, you should know that this happens to even the best speakers in the world. And just as them, you can learn how to manage such situations.

If you have the luxury of knowing some people in your audience, you might tell one of them before the presentation starts that he should ask you a question when he sees that you are about to blank. The audience will not know that this is orchestrated of course. But you can answer the question while trying to remember where you left off in your presentation. A second tip, which I personally find especially useful is to do a brief review of your presentation when you feel you are forgetting what comes next. The audience, once again, will not know that you are blanking. Even better, you are showing that you want them to get your message and that you have a structured presentation. If you have practiced your presentation beforehand, the structure will automatically come up in your head and you will remember again which part comes next, enabling you to continue your presentation.

Hopefully, these tips will help you with overcoming your fears linked to public speaking or giving presentations. Next week, we will look at some other fears and discuss ways to overcome them. If, in the meantime, you would like to know more about us, don’t hesitate to take a look at our website or contact us at [email protected] . Additionally, we are organizing an open session on 16/11 and 5/12 where we will give a full training about presentation skills and public speaking. Do not hesitate to reach out to us via [email protected] to find out more about this.

The TC3 Team