Do you have a fear of public speaking? How to overcome performance anxiety

fear of public speaking

Fear of public speaking is extremely common, especially if it is something you are not doing on a regular basis.

As a child, I was painfully shy and quiet. As I started my working life and found myself having to present to others, I was filled with dread. I would wake several times the night before and had nightmares about arriving late at the venue.

Even now, thirty years and many public speaking engagements later, I am still a little apprehensive, BUT I learned how to overcome stage fright and YOU can do it too.

Three steps helped me to reduce my level of performance anxiety and overcome my public speaking fear:

1. Stretch Your Comfort Zone

We live and work within our Comfort Zone, and when we are asked to do something unfamiliar or difficult, we often shy away from it. But if you look for opportunities to stretch your Comfort Zone, you will find it grows. And a whole range of tasks and situations that you once found intimidating no longer create the same level of fear.

fear of public speaking

To help overcome your stage fright, look for opportunities to present, initially to small groups of people you know will support you. Book presentation dates and invite people so you don't put it on the long finger.

2. Present on a Regular Basis

I started by delivering a one hour product knowledge seminar to three people in my first company, which was a multinational in a start-up situation. This led to me training hundreds of staff and delivering a 3 day seminar a couple of years later.

The more you present, the easier it becomes.

If you don't have opportunities at work to present, join your local Toastmasters who are a supportive group that meet regularly to help you overcome your fear of public speaking.

3. Prepare your Mind

A couple of days before you are due to present, it is extremely important to get into the right mindset. Banish any negative thoughts from your brain as soon as they arrive. Your brain is like a computer; tell yourself that you are going to fail and it will do its best to help you!

So close the gates to that negative thinking!

Say to yourself "I can do it" "I am a great presenter". Visualise yourself in front of the group delivering a great presentation with passion and pzazz.

More Reasons to Overcome your Fear of Public Speaking

I found that public speaking had a number of spin off benefits.

..your self confidence grows

..your knowledge of the subject you are presenting grows

..you are seen as an expert by a much wider range of people

..your ability to influence grows

..as do your career prospects!

So, take the plunge. Plan and prepare well, and speak with passion. Your audience want you to succeed. You CAN overcome your fear of public speaking and banish that performance anxiety. As Susan Jeffries said; "Feel the fear and do it anyway"!

To find answers to the key questions managers have about making effective business presentations, download the How to Make a Presentation Audio Guide which comes with a FREE Presentation Planner.

For tips on planning and preparing a presentation, as well as event management, click on Presentation Ideas.

To focus on speaking with confidence and how to make a presentation speech that connects with your audience, click on Public Speaking Tips.

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