Ways to Get Over Your Fear of Public Speaking
Many people find it challenging to communicate a clear message to an audience for many reasons. One particular reason is a lack of confidence during public speaking. This might be either during a seminar or addressing people in a gathering. Jordan Sudberg believes that public speaking, in particular, is essential because speakers can engage with the audiences and make one on one interactions. However, it might become difficult without much courage because of fear or intimidation from the people you are engaging with. Remember, the speaker interacts with people of different classes and caliber in any public engagement. Some people might be much more knowledgeable and experienced than you, and how you address them will determine their responses. Attend some executive speaking training programs that includes accent reduction, accent modification, public speaking, speech clarity, persuasiveness, messaging, body language, effectiveness on video and conference calls, getting rid of anxiety or negative speech habits, and more.
Here also are a few tips to consider if you will engage in public participation, but the fear of not performing is high.
Always prepare well
Getting prepared in time is essential if you will overcome your fear of public speaking. There are several ways you can prepare to deliver your speech with ease. Prepare well by putting your materials ready on time and conducting prior research on the topic of discussion. This will give you confidence about what you will talk about and remain relevant to the topic. Have enough materials for the presentation so that you are not left with time and have exhausted your presentation materials. Ensure you have a backup of materials should you run out of materials and still have some time left on your speaking schedule.
Be yourself and real
These are two aspects that you should always carry on when going to a public speaking event. You need to compose yourself and understand what you are going to present. Don’t force yourself to be someone you are not. This might weigh you down during speaking, as the audience might notice something is wrong in your presentation. Being real will enable you to engage with the audience freely and get feedback about your presentation.
Be physically present and confidence
Self-confidence is a personal attribute that you need to have during public speaking. More often than not, public speakers tend to be carried away by the sight of a large audience. They immediately get confused when they get on stage and forget about what they had planned to speak about. Being physically present gives you time to internalize your presentation and understand the audience before starting the actual presentation.
Organize your presentation segments
To avoid confusion during the presentation, ensure your presentation is planned in small and captivating segments. Your presentation should allow direct engagement with the audience in the form of questions where applicable. This will enable you to have an exciting and engaging conversation.
Always keep time
As a public speaker, never arrive at an event when late. The attribute of lateness might push you out of the topic and make your presentation poor. According to Jordan Sudberg, the CEO and Medical Director of Spine and Sports Rehabilitation, learning to overcome public speaking fear has been his greatest contribution to a successful career. Sudberg encourages people to follow the steps discussed above as a sure way of getting over the fear of public speaking.