Don't Let Public Speaking Terrify You

What do you think people fear the most in life? Is it death, spiders, darkness? While those things all make the top five, the greatest thing people fear is speaking in public. There is something nightmarishly terrifying about that moment when you stand up in front of a group of people and open your mouth. Your palms get sweaty, your throat runs dry, you swallow and try to speak but your voice ends up sounding like a doped up toad. Speaking in public doesn't have to be like this. Just like any fear, there are steps you can take to get over it.

One of the best ways to be a confident speaker is to prepare ahead of time. Some people can give a speech impromptu. Don't try it. If you want to give a good speech and not be a nervous wreck, plan what you are going to say before you get on the stage or to the front of the class. Make an outline and stick with it. Don't be a speaker that rambles. If you have something of value to say, spit it out.

Another thing you might want to do is to keep still when you speak. Public speaking seems to draw out the most annoying and irritating habits in people. Anything from shifting, adjusting the microphone stand a hundred times, saying um, sticking your hands in your pockets, or arranging and rearranging your hands, quickly alerts the crowd to your anxiety. Once the crowd knows you're nervous, they'll get uncomfortable too. Eliminate those annoying and nervous habits, whatever they might be for you. Try giving a speech in front of trusted friends, and have them tell you what your nervous habits are. Then work on eliminating them.

The most crucial thing to do is practice. Practice by yourself to start off with. Don't be alarmed if even that makes you nervous, that's perfectly normal. Practice until you know your material and can present it confidently. Then practice in front of a mirror and see if you notice anything that looks strange or awkward about your hand motions, posture, or other body language. If you feel ready, practice some more in front of a friend or family member. The key to becoming a good public speaker is practice. Hardly anyone starts off wanting to speak in public; most of the world's motivational speakers were terrified of speaking at some point.

Public speaking is something almost everyone is afraid of doing. Relax. Know what you're going to say, keep still, and practice. Get these three things down and you'll be ready. Speaking reminds me of a security system. Just like you will become more confident and secure in your speaking abilities with practice, with a home security, you will become more confident and secure in the safety of your home. Now go practice and dazzle your audience.

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