Speaking in public (or even before a group of people) is an unpleasant experience for most individuals. Many of us only overcome this fear after years of practice. How can it be done? Here are five tips.
These tips were published on Entrepreneur.com.
Prepare for crisis scenarios
Fear most often stems from the unknown. You may worry that your voice will tremble, you will forget what you want to say or not know how to answer a question from the audience. Therefore it is essential to have a plan for such situations. What will you do if any of them occur? Once you have a plan for the scenarios you fear, you will feel much calmer.
Learn your speech thoroughly
Before you become a speaker capable of improvising effectively and confidently, learn your speeches word for word. Once you have gained confidence through these rehearsed presentations, you can gradually begin to move toward improvisation.
Don't be afraid of silence
People who present or speak to an audience often feel that they must keep talking constantly and pausing would mean failure. But this not the case. Don't be afraid to pause occasionally: it will give your words greater weight. And if you receive a question that requires thought, take a moment to reflect before responding.
Imagine you are addressing just one person
A useful technique for calming your nerves during a speech is to imagine you are speaking to just one person. Choose someone in the audience who seems sympathetic to you and direct your talk primarily at them.
Speak in public as often as possible
The only long-term way to overcome the fear of public speaking is to face it regularly. Seek out opportunities to speak in public, step outside your comfort zone, and over time you will see your fear gradually disappear.
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