How do you get rid of the fear of public speaking?

Question

(by this I only mean like speaking in front of the class)

Answer 1

Toughie. My advice is to not talk about anything that you are not an expert in! If you are asked to speak on a topic in school, let's say, then speak on the research that you did. Stick to the topic, and don't make stuff up. (people like to jump on someone who is obviously BSing them)

As your comfort level improves, so will your skill. Stick to stuff that you know.

Answer 2

Just fake it until you make it. Fake being confident until it is all over. To block out my fear I usually get a little hyper and people think I am just excited in my topic instead of scared.

Also practice what you are going to say a lot. so even if you freak out, your mouth keeps spitting out what you practice. That got me through a lot of public speaking.

Also sometimes it's about choosing or bringing in audience that helps. I hate speaking in front of a large group of adults, but I'm great in front of kids. My projets in college usually had to do with teaching kids so sometimes I brought some better behaved kids into the class to calm my fear down during my speaches. It also changed thedynamics and audiences expectations of the speech. Kids are more likely to participate or answer questions if you through some questions to the audience. It takes a little bit of focus off you and gets the adults more involved too. Only do this if you can make it age appropriate though.

Good luck

Answer 3

Join Toastmasters or take a class at your local college. Toastmaster is a group of people that "speak" on a variety of topics, but it's to a specific group. They have conventions, and networking meetings and a great many professionals join to help them with their jobs - It can work with young adults too. Basically just doing it and getting through it is what it will take. Pretend these are all your friends or look just above the people's head in the back row. It looks like your looking the audience in the eye, but because you're looking above it, you don't see facial reactions. Good luck and don't feel bad if you don't get rid of your fear. Most people (even the best speakers) have a little fear - but their confidence in themselves supercedes their fear.

Answer 4

Scan over the crowd without actuallly focusing in on faces. Make sure you practice with and without note cards. Be deliberate in your speech, don't rush, pause if you need to or you will only make yourself more nervous. Smile from the inside out, tell yourself a joke or remmeber a favorite funny show before getting up front. Don't go first or last if you can help it. If you do go first remember you have the chance to set the bar high adn if you go last you have seen the best that everyone else can do, so just do it better. Hope this helps, good luck and God bless.

Answer 5

I can tell you this from experience:
You will always be afraid. You don't want to be laughed at in front of a crowd. Just find one person. Maybe a friend or relative, and only look at them. You know they won't make any mean faces or laugh at you. Just concentrate on one person, and glance at someone else once in a while. It's hard, but it helps!!

Answer 6

practice...I was always shy about that but then I formed a music band and when you are up there doing something you really care about it makes it easy!!! Now I know public speaking will never bother me so long as I am confident in the message I am displaying.

Answer 7

I just answered a similar question. I just pretend that I'm talking to my family and best friends. It really helps me. It forces me to be myself and not try too hard.

Answer 8

Practice. Like Nike says: "Just Do It".

Answer 9

Practice & Have Confidence ....