Top Tips To Tackle Your Fear of Public Speaking

Public speaking can be an absolute no-go zone. An activity that brings dread and fear. And for those brave enough to step into the world of public speaking they talk of countless career growth benefits. A raised profile, an opportunity to deeply learn a topic and a way to connect with many people beyond their current employer.

Public speaking presents a huge opportunity to inspire many people! So what’s stopping you and how can you address that fear? Read on to discover top tips to tackle your fear of public speaking.

Forget me not

What if my mind goes blank during the talk and I don’t know what to say? Use your slides as prompts and leverage the notes section of the presentation tool. Alternatively, use physical note cards with big words to prompt you if you get stuck. Stick numbers on the cards in case you drop them. You could also pep talk yourself in advance with a “You got this!” message on a random card. Find ways that work for you to practice your talk well in advance. Record speaking to a camera and play it back to see how you did. Practice in front of just one person who can give you honest feedback. Do a demo run of your talk at a smaller event like a meetup or team get-together. Plenty of practice will cement the talk in your head and reduce the chances of you forgetting parts of it on the day.

Heard it all before

What happens when someone else is due to speak about a topic similar to yours? Or your talk is about a topic that often gets talked about? Focus on your story and your experience. It’s completely unique and the audience will have an opportunity to see themselves in what you share. And if someone spoke earlier on the same topic then it could finally be the thing that cements the audience’s learning. “Ah, I get it now!”. And this works the same if you go before someone else who is due to talk about the same topic. As speakers, you’ll have an appreciation for each other.

Deborah Reid provides a brilliant risk-based approach to mitigating many of the fears associated with public speaking. Have a read and take to the stage. ???

?? One more thing. We’ve just opened a Call For Speakers for TestBash Autumn 2023. Share your knowledge, earn ￡￡￡, and inspire a whole tonne of people! Apply today.???