Tweet

How to navigate around the Fear of Public Speaking

Guest post by: Christiane Pohl

Article Overview: Many of us need to speak in Public sooner or later by giving presentations, participate in seminars or simply by having to convince others to come on board. You may never loose the Fear completely, but there are many steps you can take to navigate around it. The first and most important one in to understand what is the source of your fear. The next step is to identify what helps you to feel more confident on the big day. Here are a few tips that have helped me change course in a big way

How to navigate around the Fear of Public Speaking



When I was 18 I could hardly sit on a table with strangers and look up without starting to feel extremely self-conscious and loose control of my movements. If we were eating I may drop my folk or my food and feel even more self-conscious. I felt trapped in a vicious circle. Luckily I had chosen Hotel Management as a career path and had to find a way to get over my self-consciousness.

Why did I choose that path? I guess apart from loving working grazy hours and traveling I also loved being able to meet lots of different people. My curiosity was bigger then my fear. As the years moved on I managed to appear quite confident when having to give a talk or make a presentation even though my insides were twisting and turning.

Then, about 8 years ago I had my first great breakthrough. I learned what was the source of my fear – and I believe everyone else’s fear of speaking in public.

The fear, if you look closely, is about making a fool of yourself, and the source of this fear is the EGO.

The ego is the part of us that makes us feel separate from others, it is the part that is attached to the image we have created of ourselves.

The Ego is always afraid of being exposed.

A very wise man once said “Whenever you feel afraid to stand up and talk just be aware that at that moment your EGO believes that it is more important then that what you have to give.”

Whenever I start to feel fear of speaking I remind myself of his words. They always make me smile and I tell my ego to relax...after all what is the worse thing that could happen?

At the same time I have created a sort of ritual that helps me enjoy the process of preparing before starting to speak.

Here are some of the things that I have learned which may help you also:

1. I avoid having lots of things to do on the day, I take it easy

This works for me; I always allow the day to be about the event and little else.

2. Others have lots of to-do’s on the day of an event, they get busy.

Some of my friends find that the less they think about a talk or presentation, the better. So they go through their routines or see a movie. They show up at the venue at the last possible minute.

3. Create a ritual.

Your rituals will come to you with time. I meditate and visualize myself giving the talk and enjoying it. I visualize how I connect with the audience, how I feel warm towards them and how they respond by enjoying what I present. Even if I’m doing a small talk, I get very clear that I want my ego to step aside.

4. Get in the audience.

If possible I wander around the audience and talk with people before I speak. It relaxes me to just to hang out and see that there are no monsters in the audience. In a seminar I will get the audience to interact with each other right from the start and then interact with me to break the ice.

5. Exercise.

You feel better if I’ve exercised that day. Yoga and swimming works best for me. Exercise will put your emotions in a better place. I also use singing and breathing techniques to loosen my voice.

6. Get to the venue early.

I like to be well prepared and get a feel for the place. I also like to test any technical equipment and make sure everything works.

7. Use the fear instead of letting it use you

If you don’t feel like you have a handle on your fear, begin “softly.” Don’t try to “win the audience over.” Don’t try to be funny or super good. Because then it becomes about the “trying” and not about the “funny.” Focus on the audience, think warmly of them and you will find that you slowly ease your way into a confident place. Then you will relax.

With my best wishes for your success,

Christiane

Life & Leadership Coach

Related Articles
  “How to Overcome Public Speaking Fears – Ten Strategic Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach”
  Tips to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking
  Why Do We Fear Public Speaking?
  Marketing Strategies: 7 Tips to Make Public Speaking Easier
  6 Proven Ways to Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking
  How to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking in Seven Powerful Steps
  5 Positive Affirmations For Fearless Presenting
  Death, Public Speaking, and Seniors' Homes
  Want to reach people? Start talking!
  Your personal journey to public speaking confidence
  Is Mastering Public Speaking Good for Bloggers?
  What are You Really Afraid of?
  The Flavors of Fear and How to Choose the One That’s Yours
  Do You Feel Anxiety When Speaking?
  How to Get More Speaking Engagements!
  Presenting on the Fly - Discover a New World When You're Not Afraid to Present
  Overcoming Fear
  How to Sharpen Your Edge Using Fear
  The Fear Factor
  Outstanding Presentations Start in the Mind: Five Presentation Skills Secrets for Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking

Article Tags: Confidence, Leadership, Public Speaking



Related Forum Posts
Public Speaking and Presentations - Hi all, I am a local business women who does not travel...but would love to be a resource for anyone needing help or suggestions on speaking/presentations and just plain old communications on the platform and off...I've recently had some training by two former World Champs of Public Speaking...It was the best weekend of my career life. Annette
Re: Does Your Website Make these 7 Mistakes? - Hi there, I really enjoy reading the content of this post. I think one mistake could be that it is not easy to navigate. If it is difficult to navigate, it creates frustration and soon leaves the website.
Library to Meet - Has anyone ever tried the Public Library? they have meeting rooms there too and Toronto has over 30 locations with Free Wireless Internet.
Re: Fear of Success - You don't need to fear success. We should embrace it. Fear is define by a man of God as False Evidence Appearing Real. the meaning is what we fear most does'nt come to pass
Other Great Books... - Feel The Fear And Do It AnyWay - Susan Jeffers How To Stop Worrying And Do It Anyway - Dale Carnegie ('What's the worst that could happen - the worst?' Then prepare yourself for that and reality is such a relief!).


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

International Employment Background Checks

Here's a great ROI

Get Your Business on Google Places

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.