Glossophobia (Fear of public speaking)
Many of us with this fear, avoid public speaking situations altogether. It is one of the common type of anxiety, ranging from slight nervousness or to paralyzing fear and panic or suffering from shivering hands or quavering voice. But with a lot of practice and confidence you can overcome the fear.
Here are some of the tips that might help:
BREATHE
Practicing a breathing exercise before going on will relax your body and mind. Just listen to your breathing and tell yourself there is no rush. Breathe in and out and there you’ll go on in a totally relaxed and confident mood.
KNOW YOUR TOPIC
The more you know about your topic, the less likely you’ll make a mistake or get off the track. Take some time to understand your topic and have your responses ready for the questions that audience may ask.
PRACTICE SOME MORE…
Practice as much as you can. Or do it for people you are comfortable with or make a video of your presentation so you can watch it and see opportunities for improvement.
“Public speaking is not easy. It takes time, practice and patience to hone your skills,” says Rice.
DITCH THE POWER POINT
People will invent in you because of your energy, confidence and enthusiasm and not because of your slides. So invest more in presenting instead of spending hours on making the slides.
FOCUS ON THE MATERIAL, NOT THE AUDIENCE
People mainly pay attention to new information and they might not notice your nervousness, So focus on delivering your material in the best way possible and don’t worry about audience’s reactions.
BE YOURSELF
People usually sense the personality , and it becomes apparent that the speaker is acting by trying to be someone else. Try not to act like someone and just be yourself.
If you put on a front, the audience will pick up on it.
“Speaking is not acting,” says Muhammad Murad.
HAVE PRIDE IN YOUR WORK AND RECOGNIZE YOUR SUCCESS
Your strongest critic is you. When you finish a speech or presentation, give yourself a pat on the back. You finally did it despite having the fear. Have pride in yourself.
