7 Tips To Overcome Your Fear Of Public Speaking
7 Tips To Overcome Your Fear Of Public Speaking
Everyone wants to host an excellent presentation, but their fear of public speaking holds them back. So, how can you overcome public speaking anxiety? Overcoming it sounds daunting for many, but with these tips, the path to eliminating public speaking anxiety becomes easier and more organized. So, without further ado, here is how to overcome your fear of public speaking.
1. Understand your topic
The first tip on our list of overcoming the fear of public speaking is to know your topic inside out! The more knowledgeable you are about your presentation, the more confident and calm you will be while speaking in front of a crowd. Knowing your topic not only helps boost your confidence but also helps you recover from any mistake you make and be ready for any questions the audience asks.
2. Focus on what you can control
Instead of fearing what could go wrong, focus on the things you have complete control over, like your body language, speech clarity, preparation, and much more. Think of public speaking as more of a skill; the more you practice and work on it, the better you will be at it. Focusing on what you can control is a great tip to overcome the fear of public speaking if you are always nervous about things going wrong.
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3. Practice makes perfect
The next hack on our list of 7 tips to overcome your fear of public speaking is to practice your presentation however you want. You can stand before a mirror and practice or use soft toys as your audience! Practicing makes you confident with how you present, lets you figure out the gestures you need to make and your body language, and irons out the small mistakes while improving your presentation skills. To boost your presentation skills, check out our blog on ways to improve your presentation skills!
4. Refocus your brain
Refocusing your brain is very crucial when you think about how to get over your public speaking anxiety. You are the most nervous right before you start your presentation in front of a crowd, and that is the exact time you need to refocus your brain.
Think of all the mental rehearsals you have done, and remember that the presentation is not about you; it is about helping and explaining the contents to the people listening to you. Your brain will take a few tries to understand, but speaking in public becomes a breeze once it does. This makes refocusing your brain one of the 7 tips to overcome your fear of public speaking.
5. Write and challenge your fears
As per Kidlin’s law, if you can write down your problems clearly, they are already half-solved! Kidlin’s law even applies to public speaking; once you can identify all the issues and fears you face while speaking in public, you can find a solution. Use the solutions you figured out to challenge all your fears of public speaking; this will not only help your brain to understand that not all fears you have are major but very minute and inconsiderable, like stumbling over your words won’t mess up your presentation.
6. Mental rehearsal
Imagine giving one of your best public presentations. Think of how the presentation would go and what you would be wearing, how you would present with confidence and poise, and how the audience would react to every slide. Imagine being able to answer each question asked and having applause at the end. Didn’t that make you feel more confident? This technique is known as mental rehearsal, which athletes usually use to achieve their potential and break records.
It works well in public speaking because you can focus even under pressure and manage your emotions. One fun fact about mental rehearsal is that it uses the same neural pathways as when you do it, making your brain more positive and confident, making it one of the best hacks to overcome the fear of public speaking.
7. Deep breaths, deep breaths
When we discuss how to get over public speaking anxiety, one of the best hacks for getting ready for a presentation in public is to take deep breaths before entering the spotlight. Take a deep breath, hold it in for 5 seconds, and exhale for 5 seconds; this releases the tension inside your body and allows you to calm down quickly, helping you prepare for your presentation.
Using these 7 tips to overcome your fear of public speaking, you will soon be able to present without a hiccup publicly. One small secret tip we would like to share with you is that when creating your presentation, make sure you use visually appealing slides to draw attention to the PowerPoint as you catch your breath while presenting. Check out SlideUpLift’s vast collection of 100% customizable professional templates compatible with Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint for visually appealing slides.
FAQS
How do you get the courage to speak in public?
You must constantly practice ironing out wrinkles and gaining confidence to gather courage. Also, ensure that you are practicing your body language and speech clarity.
What to drink to calm nerves?
A few good drinks to calm nerves include the likes of coconut juice, chamomile tea, and ginger juice. Drinking these before your presentation will help you feel more calm.
What is the 3–3–3 rule for anxiety?
The 3–3–3 rule for anxiety is to look around, identify 3 objects and 3 sounds, and then move 3 body parts. This rule is more of an informal method to cope with anxiety and to be calm.
Why am I so afraid of public speaking?
There are many reasons why you are so afraid of speaking in public. One of the main culprits is that you are putting yourself out and opening yourself up to criticism or rejection when you are vulnerable.
