Any tips on getting over a huge huge fear of public speaking?

Question

i have an interview to get onto a degree course i would love to do. Only problem is the selection day sounds horrific!! consists of a day of group interviews and me having to do a presentation infront of the tutors and students. I hate speaking publicly and start shaking and getting my words mixed up. Any tips? maybe i should go to the docs and get some tablets to get through the day, or use herbal remedy??

Answer 1

Depending on your time frame, there are three options. If you have a few months, join Toastmasters International. Within a few months, they will have removed any fears of public speaking from your mind, and you will have learned valuable skills that will help you for the rest of your life.

If you have a few days, go to your doctor, and ask him or her about a group of drugs called beta blockers. They are safe and effective for dealing with fear of public speaking.
Your doctor may have other suggestions, as well.

If you only have a few hours, get drunk, miss the appointment, and give up. The idea that alcohol will help you get past the fear may be valid, but no one is going to want a drunk in their classroom, and it certainly won't enhance the content of your presentation.

Fear of public speaking is common. Don't let it get you down. Overcoming the fear is easy if you use a resource like Toastmasters Clubs. Good Luck!

Answer 2

The only way to get better at it is to practice. Do your presentation a few times in front of people. There are also a few tricks you can do like some breathing exercises before you have to speak. It also can help sometimes to admit right at the beginning of your presentation that you are nervous, and that public speaking sometimes makes your hands shake and your words mixed up. Then you start off with some sympathy. Also some people like to think of the worst thing that could possibly happen beforehand, which can help you get over irrational fears. And there is also the old trick of imagining your audience in their underwear. That can make you feel more in control. Good luck!

Answer 3

Public speaking is a common source of stress for everyone. Many of us would like to avoid this problem entirely, but this is hard to do. Whether we work alone or with large numbers of people, eventually we will need to speak in public to get certain tasks accomplished. And if we want to be leaders or achieve anything meaningful in our lives, we will often need to speak to groups, large and small, to be successful.

The truth about public speaking, however, is IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE STRESSFUL! If you correctly understand the hidden causes of public speaking stress, and if you keep just a few key principles in mind, speaking in public will soon become an invigorating and satisfying experience for you.

#1--Speaking in Public is NOT Inherently Stressful

#2--You Don't have to be Brilliant or Perfect to Succeed

#3--All You Need is Two or Three Main Points

#4--You also Need a Purpose That is Right for the Task

#5--The Best Way to Succeed is Not to consider Yourself a Public Speaker!

#6--Humility and Humor Can Go a Long Way

#7--When You Speak in Public, Nothing "Bad" Can Ever Happen!

Principle #8--You Don't Have to Control the Behavior of Your Audience

#9--In General, the More You Prepare, the Worse You Will Do

#10--Your Audience Truly Wants You to Succeed

I really hope this helps and you get over your fear of speaking. I took a speech class to get over it. It really does help! Have fun!

Answer 4

Public speaking is the 2nd worst fear of humans. Welcome to the club. I found that I just had to gather all the strength I could and put one foot in front of the other. Here's what happens. When you do that you make a breakthrough and things start to flow easier. The reality is a lot better than the fear.

The biggest tip I think: Don't try to be a performer. Just be yourself, talk to the audience like you're talking honestly and genuine to someone you know. Be a friend, not an actor. Just try to inform them; you're telling them something they'd like to know, and you know it better than they do. Don't worry about mistakes. Just be straight and honest, make eye contact with different people, and throw in a little of humor. The first real laugh from them will break the spell, guaranteed, and things will warm up. You will see them as co humans, not judges.

Go!

Answer 5

Almost everybody feels that way. I used to. I think it is because we don't enjoy being the center of attention.

If you watch other people when they speak publicly, do you analyze them critically? Probably not. You probably wish that you could do it. Well, you can.

I forced myself to take advantage to speaking in front of a group every chance I could. I still am not a good public speaker, but it doesn't bother me. I am more concerned about getting my message across, rather than how I look or sound.

Just try to relax. Try to get feedback from people in the audience. Then you can concentrate on speaking to one person. I like to clown around and get people laughing. Once I get going, I don't want to stop speaking.

Answer 6

Pick on one nice looking person in the panel or audience and concentrate on them and speak only to them. If you do this it will be easier than talking to a crowd. I found this a useful technique when starting out doing talks and lectures. The other thing is to only expound on something you actually do know about and be honest if you know nothing. DO NOT WAFFLE

Answer 7

You dint need medication or vodka...but what could be help full is 1st giving your speech in front of the mirror (and if you feel you need it, with flashcards to help you remember and not get mixed up). Then when you feel you mastered the mirror, have someone...(and this is the hard part)...be your audience. Have them be honest on what to say, what no to say, how to stand, movement of the hand (which really help a lot when your nervous)..etc, etc. I give classes to teens, now that's hard. So you will do fine, its all in your mind^_^...."practice makes perfect."

Answer 8

breathe deeply and know your subject.
also pretend that you are really confident and are enjoying what you are talking about!
i had to give a speech a few months ago and was nervous about it even though i didnt want to-it was scary first getting up so i just launched into it.it was fine when i was there.
all the best!

Answer 9

Try Dr Bach's Rescue Remedy- it really helps! Good Luck. :-)

Answer 10

I used to be exactly the same and now I'm a college lecturer! I used to feel myself going red and starting to shake and then one day, I thought s0d it! I know I'm going red, they know I'm going red, just keep talking! Just do it, feel the fear and do it anyway!