Six Tips to Try if You're Scared to Speak on Stage
Sue Currie
Executive Presence | Corporate Image | Communication | Educator | Speaker | Consulting | Coach | Author
I’m looking forward to upcoming work in-house with a corporate group to help with their presentation skills. It’s a topic of professional development I enjoy teaching and it’s great to be live with people in a room and having that participation and interaction.
Delivering a speech or presentation is an opportunity to showcase your personal brand or business and an essential skill to master for any established or emerging businessperson.
Often when I work with clients on their presentation skills, the number one obstacle they tell me they are facing is – nerves – and how to get over them. It is a real fear – there is even a word for it glossophobia – fear of speaking in public.
You’ve been invited to deliver a speech or give a presentation and even though you may have said yes, as it is a great opportunity to showcase your personal brand or business – you are scared to death.
Not uncommon. Many budding speakers face this problem and I’ve certainly been there. The knocking knees, clammy hands and shortness of breath are real.
But don’t let this put you off. You can?overcome your fear of public speaking with plenty of practise and implementing these six tips.
Be Prepared.?Plan and structure your presentation and then practise. Rehearse, rehearse and rehearse. Rehearse your presentation in front of friends. You may be tempted to just “wing it” as you want to come across as natural and spontaneous. That is of course the desired response, to appear as though the presentation is effortless yet interesting. But you’re better off having a few run-throughs in front of a familiar audience first.
Shake it Off.?Move around backstage or in another room to release some pent-up energy. Swing your arms, do a few star jumps, strut it out or do a few power poses. Let out that sound and breath too with some car karaoke on the way or singing in the bathroom. Laugh out loud. It’s a good idea to warm up your voice with vocal exercise and tongue twisters before your speech.
Stillness. Now that you have that energy bar raised – be still and let the breathing be soft. Deep breathing, slow and steady will calm some of those nerves. One technique I use, is to count backwards quietly to yourself, from 100 minus three. 100, 97, etc. Concentrating on the numbers will slow the breathing and reduce the adrenalin rush. Once you commence your presentation, speak a little more slowly so you don’t sound too hurried (or harried). It’s okay to pause here and there so the audience has time to understand what you are saying.
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Sue Currie?is a speaker and the author of?IMPRESSario,?Present and Promote the Star Within You. She is passionate about helping business executives and entrepreneurial professionals elevate their personal brand, image and professional presence. Sue’s suite of services delivered through workshops, consulting, coaching and keynote presentations provides a multi-faceted approach to gain high transformation for her clients.