Speaking In Public And Overcoming Stage Fright, In 8 Steps
Many people have serious difficulties speaking in public because they feel stage fright when speaking in front of an audience.
This type of anxiety can cause great discomfort, which affects their self-confidence and their perception of their own abilities. But not everyone feels bad when speaking in public. There are individuals who enjoy attention and feel very comfortable when communicating in front of a group of people. What do these people do to feel this good in a seemingly tense situation?
To overcome stage fright, you first need to understand it. So… What does this psychological phenomenon consist of? In essence, it is an alteration that leads the person who experiences it to suffer high levels of anxiety before and during the act of communicating before a large audience, in actions such as giving a conference, presenting a project, participating in a play, etc Fear of public speaking is a subtype of stage fright, in which the main action feared is speaking in front of many people, usually more than a dozen.
What causes the fear of speaking in public? Although it is a multi-causal phenomenon, the following elements usually participate:
Tips for public speaking
If you are one of the people for whom speaking in public is difficult, The tips below can help you feel more confident and leave behind the fears of speaking in front of an audience. You should know that the fear you feel is a normal response of your nervous system, and that learning to speak in public is possible through practice and a little courage.
If you have to make a speech for your best friend’s wedding or you have to make a presentation for your final year project, Preparing well what you will say can help you gain self-confidence
Therefore, research well what you are going to say so that you can master the topic. Prepare that speech so that you have an idea of what you are going to say, and this way it will be much easier for you to remember and express your ideas in a fluid and clear way.
2. Practice it, rehearse it as many times as necessary
But preparing what you will say in public may not make much sense if you don’t practice it In addition to organizing information and structuring both on paper and mentally what you want to express, practicing it will be very useful when it comes to gaining peace of mind and confidence.
It is clear that practicing takes time, but every time you practice you will realize that you have improved. When you have to make that presentation or speech, everything will be more fluid and you will be more comfortable. If you like feedback, It is highly recommended that you practice in front of family or friends who can give you their opinion You can also record yourself on video to see for yourself how you do it. Maybe it surprises you in a positive way.
3. Focus on breathing
Focusing on breathing is one of the most used techniques to reduce anxiety. Therefore, if you have control over your breathing, you may be able to control the timing better.
When you focus your attention on your breathing, your voice will sound better and you will be calmer. Breathe calmly and pay attention to the rhythm you impose when speaking
4. Attend classes to learn public speaking
Public speaking training will help you become more aware of what you do right or wrong and what you can improve. Not only that, but you will discover what the “art of public speaking” is
If you train yourself properly, you will master body language, you will know how to use your voice more efficiently and you will learn different techniques that will allow you to feel better and more confident when facing the audience.
5. Admit that you are nervous
One of the best ways to overcome the fear of public speaking is to admit it It’s normal to feel some tension when you have to speak in front of a group of people you don’t know.
But take the edge off the matter and apply the previous advice. Acceptance helps reduce anxiety and helps you not be so hard on yourself. Don’t be such a perfectionist, give yourself time and don’t demand so much of yourself
You may be interested: “Perfectionistic personality: the disadvantages of perfectionism”
6. Mentally change your audience
People feel anxiety about how we evaluate the events that happen to us So if we take the presentation as something in which life is spent, because we are evaluated by a group of experts and we risk our final grade, it is very likely that our anxiety will increase.
Maybe you can convince yourself that your audience is just a group of students who are just as nervous as you, or Maybe you can imagine that they are friends you haven’t seen in years This way you won’t put extra pressure on yourself when speaking in public.
7. Rely on visual aids
Imagine that you make a presentation with a well-crafted PowerPoint that is pleasing to the eye or you make it with notes given to each member of the audience.
This will make the audience less attentive to looking at you and, furthermore, will allow you to rely on these visual aids to guide you and take pressure off of you
8. Take it as a fun experience
To feel more comfortable speaking in public, the first thing you should do is change your attitude and turn fear into something stimulating and if it can be, even fun.
This is the most important tip, since if you are comfortable and take this experience as something fun, the audience is likely to connect with you. Fun is engaging So if you can, bring out a little of your sense of humor. You will see how well it will be received.
