Thursday, February 22, 2018

Public Speaking - Beating the Fear 3/12


Beating the Fear
PSP Week 1
Discussion Material

Fear of public speaking is very common. Unfortunately, knowing you’re not the only one who’s scared probably won’t help you get over your speech anxiety. While you’ll have to find your own way to relieve the stress associated with public speaking, we’d like to offer some tips to help you get through the class (and all of the public speaking you’ll do afterward) without fear making the job even harder.

Feeling Anxious or Afraid

There are a number of reasons people become anxious or fearful about public speaking. For many, it happens before the presentation ever begins. We can worry about our preparation, our appearance, the sounds of our voices and much, much more. Others of us might not feel it until we see an audience looking back, or consider the importance of the moment. Each person will have a different source of anxiety and fear, and even the best speakers may never completely overcome their anxiety.

Turning the Bad Into Good

The good news is that feeling a little anxious or fearful can be helpful. As long as we don’t let it get it of hand, it can serve as a reminder that we need to prepare ourselves carefully and give our best efforts.

If you find that your anxiety is hard to control, think about your strengths. Practice your presentation with family and friends to see what parts they like. Those are the parts you do well, and you can build your presentation with similar moments. Playing to your strengths will not only improve the experience for your audience, but will increase your confidence, as well.

The Last Minute Rush

Just before your speech begins, you will probably feel a rush of energy. If you feel anxious or afraid, this may be when it becomes most bothersome. Keeping your cool just before you begin is the best way to beat the fear.

Try not to over-analyze your prepared notes. Fretting over phrases or reworking your remarks at the last minute will only make you appear confused or lost when the time for your speech comes. Remember that unless you question yourself, no one else will doubt you. The audience hasn’t seen your notes, after all, and won’t notice if you miss a minor point or two.

Instead of making last minute adjustments, try to calm yourself. Take deep breaths and put your mind at ease so that you can think clearly when you need to focus on your presentation.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Remember that rehearsal is your best friend. The better you know your material, the less likely it is that you’ll run into complications before or during your speech. If you’ve practiced enough, you’ll find that you can focus on engaging your audience and refining your delivery without having to worry about what you’re going to say.

Beating Your Own Fear

Fear and anxiety are personal feelings, so you’ll have to identify and address them on your own. Once you know where they come from, though, you should be able to overcome them.

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