Do You Have A Fear Of Public Speaking?

Issue #13

As a writer, I’m more than happy sitting somewhere all by myself with a notebook or a laptop and letting my fingers do the talking. I prefer to take the time to let my thoughts flow, go back and edit them later, and then finalize it all to make sure I’ve captured what I wanted to say in the most succinct, straight forward and understandable way.

As a human, I have a need for interaction. And while I love sitting in the audience and listening and learning from others, it became clear to me that I needed to be willing and able to share my message verbally as well.

So here’s today’s lesson, if it applies to you…

Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking

Not all of us have issues with speaking in public or being on stage, but for many of us, it can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety. Being able to speak in public, however, whether at a meeting with your team or from a stage at an event with a full house, is a necessary skill to be a great leader.

Here are my tips and a little secret I’ve learned over the years.

1. Practice, practice, practice. It may sound silly, but practicing your talk out loud in the mirror or to your pets will help you get comfortable with the content before you hit the stage. The more comfortable and familiar you are with your message, the easier it will be to share with your real audience when the time comes.
2. It’s ok to have a few notes on hand. Thanks to TedTalks, we all think we should be able to deliver a riveting talk with no cue cards and no notes. And while this is something we can aspire to, while on your way, it’s ok to have notecards. I personally bullet point the key items I don’t want to miss so once I do get going I have them to reference as needed.
3. Make it interactive. One of the things that makes being on stage so nerve wracking is knowing all eyes and ears are on you. Finding ways to make your talks interactive can help settle your nerves. I love questions from the audience and share this up front to encourage them. If you’re able to make your presentation more conversation than lecture, everyone is more likely to stay engaged and the time will fly right by.

As here’s a little secret I learned over the years. The more you do it, the easier it gets. And you may even grow to enjoy public speaking. While I still get nervous in those first few moments before I hit the stage, I’ve learned how to take a deep breath and channel my energy. And once I get a laugh or a question from the audience, I’m all good.

If you’ve never spoken in public before, I recommend starting small and with a group you feel comfortable with. If you’ve been asked to speak recently and declined, I encourage you to reconsider. And if an opportunity presents itself, do yourself a favor and say yes. We all have valuable lessons and insight to share with the world, and we need to hear your voice in the mix.

With you on the journey…