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Tips from an Expert Public Speaking Coach to Remove Public Speaking Fear

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Wikipedia quotes fear of public speaking as "stage fright" affecting as much as 75% of the population. Most careers require an adequate ability to present which is vital to continued sucess. Could Fear of Public Speaking actually be as simple as the fear of judgment? Fear of being seen as weak? Fear of being put on the spot?  Since this topic continues to resonate, here are some tips to overcome these fears and anxieties:

PREPARE:  Proper preparation exudes confidence. However, memorizing speeches can result in “freezing” on stage. Remember the flow of your speech: opening/a few points/closing, and you’ll know where you are during all stages of the talk, regardless of distractions. Following the flow in your own words will make you sound conversational and relaxed. See yourself as the Expert. Know more about the subject than expected (Avoid telling them everything you know...save some ammo for after your talk).

PUT YOUR AUDIENCE FIRST:  What's the purpose/message? What's in it for the audience? What are their needs? What changes in their lives should they take? Will they enjoy the talk? As an audience member, we enjoy Speakers who smile, tell memorable stories, are positive and passionate. V.H. Vroom developed the Expectancy Theory in the 1960’s: “We generally get what we expect.” Recall a time when you did a stellar presentation and focus your thoughts on that outcome.  Are most of your 60,000 thoughts per day positive? Expect to do well and you will. Be approachable. Add stories for a personal touch to keep your audience engaged.

PRACTICE:  Practice in front of a mock audience (perhaps co-workers if they have a similar need). See if the stories work. See if the audience is engaged. Be open to implementing their feedback. Practice without coaching is like not practicing at all. Our participants always ask how to prevent "freezing on stage." Try practicing with distractions (loud room, wave your hands, colleague interrupting, loud radio, or with loud TV on while looking at TV, etc). If we prepare for distractions, the real event will feel much more comfortable.

Think of fluent speakers who had great impact. Chances are they took the above approach to overcome their fears to convey conviction and confidence. Trina Paulus once said, “How does one become a butterfly? You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.” Take the opportunities to prepare, put your audience first, and practice, and you, too, will become the envy of others!
by Kerrie Espuga, Managing Director  
    
 

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