Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking with Five Hacks

 

Fear of public speaking or glossophobia ranges in severity – from mild anxiety to a crippling disorder that can upset your professional life. According to a recent study, glossophobia affects nearly 75% of the global population.

While marketers, salespersons, managers, or individuals in prominent leadership positions find themselves in front of a crowd frequently, even the most sheltered researchers, at some point, have to give presentations regarding their findings to their colleagues or a committee.

There are innumerable courses, programs, books, and online resources for people who want to overcome fear of public speaking. However, the below five hacks ensure immediate results. They are specifically helpful when you are trying to calm your nerves for a last-minute speech.

1.      Chalk Down Notes

The more comfortable you are with the material, the less anxious you will feel. Yes, it is that simple. While you do not have to read out the entire presentation, keeping a couple of notes close by can prevent you from assuming that you will experience a brain freeze in the middle of the speech.

2.      Reach the Venue Early

It would help if you got physically comfortable with your surroundings. Doing so eliminates some unknowns – like what the space will look like, what technology you will be implementing, where the audience will be sitting, and where you will be standing. If you thoroughly acquaint yourself with all of this before, you are bound to feel less anxious.

3.      Pay Attention to the Content

Pay close attention to the content instead of letting your mind obsess over your sweaty palms or creaky voice, or even the people in front of you. Remind yourself of the passion or interest you have in your material, and you will no longer feel self-aware or self-conscious.

4.      Visualize the Worst Scenarios

What are you afraid of? Forgetting your speech? Saying something foolish? Passing out? Being humiliated because of your habits or appearance? The experts helping people overcome fear of public speaking said you must try to find out your worst-case scenario. Make a plan to recover from it if it does happen, although I am 99% sure it would not.

5.      Practice Relaxation Techniques

The Harvard Medical School specified a few relaxation techniques that you may easily do right before the speech to alleviate the fear of public speaking. Each technique takes a couple of minutes and lets you manage the disturbing physical sensations caused by anxiety. Also, try deep breathing before going up on the stage.

  • Sit with your feet on the floor. Keep your back straight.
  • Inhale from the abdomen and count to five.
  • Hold your breath for five seconds.
  • Exhale and count to five again.
  • Repeat this exercise ten times until your heart rate becomes normal.

Use the hacks stated above to manage your fear of public speaking. They also let you improve your skills for the next presentations.

Location: London, UK

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