Tips To Eliminate Fear Of Public Speaking

Man is a social animal. Every human being has an innate need of appreciation and acceptance. However, not every individual gets what he/she wants. Each one of us is endowed with certain personality traits. Some individuals are extroverts, whereas some are reserved. Individuals who are introverts by nature may find public speaking to be stressful. Public speaking involves addressing different types of audiences. Fear of public speaking is also known as stage fear. Not everyone is a born orator. One can develop and master the art of public speaking gradually. Here, are few tips that will help in eliminating the fear of public speaking.

Pen down your thoughts: It is best to be jot down pointers for the speech. This will work as a quick reference cheat sheet before he/she faces their audience.

Rehearse: nothing can beat rehearsals. One may choose to rehearse in front of the mirror. This will help in correcting the body posture and facial expressions. Continue rehearsing in front of the mirror till one is confident about the body language.

Mock drill: Next step in eliminating the fear of public speaking is to deliver the speech to a group of friends or relatives. This helps in relieving the pressure. It will also boost one’s confidence level.

Be Impromptu: most of the people think that public speakers have a brilliant memory power because they deliver flawless presentation. This is just the myth. Audience would not know if the speech is correct or not because they were not present when the speech was prepared. It is okay to miss a point or two. In the same way, it is perfectly alright to add impromptu points or examples while addressing the crowd.

Do not anticipate: The biggest mistake that one can commit is to anticipate the audience’s reaction. One cannot control the audience’s mind. One needs to give their best without worrying about the result. Anticipating the audience’s reaction only adds to the stress of public speaking. Keep an open mind and just deliver the best.

Dare to be different: one need not stick to the clichéd delivery method of power point presentations. One can bring a variety in his/ her delivery style to entertain the audience. Do away with the power point slides and use audio- visuals or images to capture the audience’s attention.

Last but not the least connects with your audience. Talk to them. Maintain and eye contact and smile often. These effective tips will help in eliminating the fear of public speaking to a great extent.