CONFIDENCE IN SPEAKING

Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking

Most people report that giving a speech is their greatest fear. And yet the ability to give a speech is one of the most valued business skills today.

Try these 5 tips to get over your nervousness and to develop confidence while speaking.

1. Expect to be nervous.

Even experienced speakers get nervous. Don’t try to eliminate your jitters. Turn them into energy you can use to boost your delivery.

2. Practice.

Speak to supportive audiences in small forums where less is at stake – at a staff meeting or a PTA meeting. Join Toastmasters or take a Dale Carnegie course. Work with a coach.

3. Breathe.

In the thirty seconds before you begin speaking, take three slow, deep breaths through your nose, filling your belly. As you breathe out, say silently to yourself, “Relax.”

4. Rehearse.

Stand up and walk around as you practice out loud. Don’t memorize your speech or practice it word for word. Talk it through, point by point. Imagine you’re explaining your main ideas to a friend.

5. Simplify.

Most speakers try to do too much in a speech. Then they worry about leaving something out or losing their train of thought. Aim, instead, to communicate one basic idea. Keep it short and simple.