What is the best way to lose the fear of public speaking?

Answer 1

Just believe in yourself. The only thing we should fear is fear itself. Think less about yourself and more about your audience and some of the fear will leave, as you perceive yourself not as isolated but as part of the group you are addressing - a group that want to hear what you have to say. Don't guess at what your audience's reaction mean. It detracts from your effectiveness to worry aobut those who don't seem to be listening, since they may be listening the hardest, anyway. Use fear to your advantage, charisma and adrenaline are closely linked, not worry about being a gifted speaker. Remember the facts, you are supposed to know more about your subject than the audience, you are there because you are more capable of covering the subject than most people. Believe it and you will do it.

Also think of the example of the frightened boy walking past a cemetery on a dark night. As long as he walked casually and whistled gaily he was fine. When he decided to walk faster, he could not resist the temptation to run; and when he ran, terror took over. It's the same in public speaking. Don't take that first fast step. Don't give in, don't show fear, and don't talk about your fear and weaknesses, or your unpreparedness, you will be letting the cat out of the bag and telling your audience not to listen since you will not have done your home work.

These 3 exercises work as mental aids for speakers to feel better physically;

1. Concentrate on deep nasal breathing using your diaphram. Breathe through your nose so you don't make your mouth dry.
2. working from your feet, tense different parts of your body and then relax them. You will lose much of that clamminess and nervousness.
3. Roll your head in a circle from shoulder to shoulder, as if you were a limp rag doll. This relaxes your throat and vocal cords.

Most of all, practice, practice, practice. Practice until you are 100% confident. Practice infront of a mirror, into a tape recorder, for a group of friends, and at different times. The best practice is public speaking itself. The more you do it, the better you become, dont avoid it. Public speaking is an art that only improves with time. The best way to boost your confidence before a speech or presentation is to think positively. Saturate your mind with positive thoughts. Repeat to yourself any positive catch phrase that appeals: e.g. 'I am poised, prepared, persuasive, positive, and powerful. I also feel composed, confident, convincing, commanding and compelling'

Last but not least, dressing properly boosts your confidence. Dress for the occassion and people will believe in you. But avoid overdoing it, avoid very floral clothing, this may distract the attention of your audience and works to your disadvantage.

Answer 2

imagine that the person furthest to the back is wearing a pointy hat. Talk to the hat. That will get your volume right (and this is true even with mics).

Plan thoroughly.

Speak about half the speed that you think you should be speaking at.

Don't fear silence. Use it to make a point. A pause can mean "did you get that last point?". A confident speaker will incorporate a lot of silence.

Talk through it at least twice beforehand, and time yourself. You have less space than you think. If you can get a rented audience for rehearsals it will help a lot. Talking in front of two or three of your friends is actually a lot harder than doing it in front of a roomful of people. If you crack that, you've cracked it.

Map out your key messages beforehand; have no more than three or four, and hang the whole talk on that.

A script is no bad thing. Print it in a sans serif font (like Arial) and nice BIIIG letters.

If not confident, do NOT do jokes. Ignore this advice only (1) at your peril or (2) if you are the Best Man, in which case steal all your jokes from the obscurest locations you can find.

Answer 3

The most common fear most humans have is the fear of public speaking. I think it comes easier to some than others. I have learned that I tend to over criticize myself during and after I am finished. I will feel terrible about my presentation but others will tell me they enjoyed it. After hearing honest positive feedback time and time again I came to believe in myself. I am my own worst critic and that is usually the way it is with normal people. Good luck. It is not easy for anyone. Sometimes when I am stuck I will tell a story about a personal experience that relates to the topic. Since it is my experience I know the material well and can speak with authority. Or I will pick a friendly face in the crowd and speak directly to them.

Answer 4

The thing to remember is that the people who will be listening to you are there because they want to hear what you have to say. They are not there to criticise and they probably all know what it is like to speak in front of a crowd. Think positively and focus on one person in the audience and speak to that person only as if there are just the two of you in the room. Once you have got over the first few moments the fear will go and you will be able to speak to the whole room . You might even begin to enjoy yourself! Good Luck

Answer 5

Be really really sure of what you are talking about.

Rehearse your talk, to yourself and then to a couple of trusted friends or colleagues.

Remember that you are the expert here and your audience needs to know what you are telling them. (or if it is a speech at a wedding type talk, you have the inside gen on the bride/groom). Whatever - it is you who is in control. Be bold, be confident, look up and glance around the room often. Smile.

I've tried the 'imagine them all naked' thing - doesn't work as too distracting from the talk.

The buzz you feel when you've finished is great so once you've done it once you don't mind doing it again to get that buzz again!

Answer 6

Practice is the only way to lose the fear.

Bit of a catch 22 but you just have to do it and it will get easier.

It helps if you believe in what you are saying and have confidence in yourself. Try not to worry about what people think and before you know it, it will be easy.

Answer 7

I think its differnt for everyone. I just took the bull by the horns and changed my attitude by just not giving a crap what anyone thought. I started to sing out loud in shops or walking down the street, joined a drama group and went on stage and before you know it I was just not the kind of person to fear doing anything in public.
Hope this helps.

Answer 8

Practice what you are going to say (Out Loud) over and over again - get used to hearing your own voice.

Use 'trigger cards' to help jog your memory as to what you are going to say.

Be happy with what you are going to say - feel confident in the contents of speech.

Don't use any technology that you aren't totally familiar with - using computers that have the risk of not working the way you expect.

Give out handouts so your audience are distracted.

To lose the overall fear - hypnotherapy to make you feel more confident (or a nip of whiskey!) and then its just practice - the more you do, the more confident you will start to feel!

Answer 9

If you have a message to impart - just think of that as being your goal- to impart the message in as clear and as concise a way as you can. Forget about yourself-it is the "message" that matters. If people really want to hear the "message" they will concentrate on that and not on you, unless you are too pompus or totally out of your mind with nerves, which will distract from the "message". Be brave, and just "Go for it!" The more you talk to large groups, the easier it becomes - if you've got the right "message"! and know your subject well!

Answer 10

When 'performing' in public I try to imagine that there is a little old lady at the back of the hall who is really enjoying it all, and I speak to her. If only she really existed!