Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking
Fear of Public Speaking and Public Speaking Anxiety I recall reading somewhere that the two of the greatest fears that the majority of people have are the fear of death and dying and the fear of public speaking Why do you think the fear of public speaking frightens people so? From my personal experience about me , I believe it stems from the fact that many people simply lack the self confidence , suffer from low self esteem , and do not have the hope and faith ,in God and in themselves (their own ability), in public speaking effectively. Like anything else in life, if you want to be good at something, you have to practice. Practice makes Perfect. No…. practice just makes better. Think of your own job at the moment. Did you arrive on the job knowing everything you needed to know on day one? Of course not, you read, you studied, you interacted with staff etc in understanding your role in your career goals pursuits. In order for you to get the job in your current position, you fist had to participate in a job interview , didn’t you? And if you got the job and were hired, you had to hone and perfect your business communication sills effectively to the recruiter; articulating your skills and experience, and conveying just how those skills and experiences relate to the position for which you were hired. Nobody particularly enjoys a job interview for obvious reasons of the stress and anxiety that you have during the experience. But guess what? You go to the job interviews regardless because you want the job. And if you are really smart and savvy-you will do your homework and research all you can about the prospective employer and the position to enhance your candidacy for the position. You may even role play with a friend or your spouse to make sure your responses are direct and to the point. And because you did your homework, you eventually gain the self confidence you need in knowing how to succeed. Public speaking is really no different. Do you think the celebrities and business elites who are proficient in public speaking did not have a fear of public speaking at some point during their lives? Public speaking really is no different than effective business communication. Know Your Subject Matter It goes without saying, but it vitally important to know and understand your subject matter in your public speaking. Whether you are giving a quarterly report of your company’s sales performance to your board of directors or giving a PowerPoint presentation to your managerial department, it is important that you take the necessary time in understanding thoroughly the subject matter you are going to be speaking. Make sure your message is on target. If there is anything more annoying to an audience, is someone who rambles in their public speaking with no clear direction or purpose. Practice Your Public Speaking Make sure you prepare thoroughly by practicing a few days before you deliver your public speaking message. Practice by listening to yourself, make sure you don’t speak like you’re heading off to a fire but also not too slowly that you are putting your audience to sleep. If you can, practice the public speaking with one or two members who can provide feedback to you in what you id right and what you still need to do better for self improvement , and make sure you speak clearly at all times. Understand Your Public Speaking Audience Many people miss this vital point, but it is just as important to understand your target audience that your public speaking is aimed towards as the message itself that you are about to deliver. How you deliver a message to your board of directors is far different than pitching a project proposal to a prospective client. Make an attempt in trying to understand your audiences concerns and how your public speaking will effect and impact them. Be Truthful and Honest in Your Public Speaking I still believe that honesty is the best policy, and I try my best to conduct my life that way. You should do the same. If you can’t be honest at all, really says something about your character development. I believe one of the reasons so many people suffer from public speaking anxiety and fear of public speaking in general may be due to how honest the person doing the public speaking is in presenting the message. The world is full of the Bear Stearns and Enrons that ended in dismal failures , due to outright dishonesty, corrupt and unethical business practices. Make sure you are honest and forthright in all your communications. Your audience will appreciate and respect you more for being candid than giving them a line that they have probably heard before. Your Ability is only Limited by your Inability to Take Action... Remember: ”The only Unfulfilled Goals in Your Life are the Ones you Never Attempt” |
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