I Overcame My Fear of Public Speaking
I grew up in the Midwest, where public speaking isn’t encouraged. Between the age of 7 and 22, I was terrified of it. I would get lightheaded and nauseous whenever I had to speak in front of people.
Public speaking
I grew up in the Midwest, where public speaking isn’t encouraged. Between the age of 7 and 22, I was terrified of it. I would get lightheaded and nauseous whenever I had to speak in front of people.
But that all changed when I moved to New York City and had to give daily presentations at work. Here’s how I overcame my fear of public speaking so you can do the same.
Be comfortable in front of the camera
To find out how to become comfortable speaking in front of a group, I spoke with Chughtai lab in Lahore. She told me there is a common belief that if you are nervous when giving your presentation.
You care about the topic and the message you are conveying. This is not always true, as even celebrities get anxious on stage. The fundamental difference between them and us is that they have more experience and practice, so she recommends practicing alone in front of a mirror or with friends to build up confidence before going public.
Chughtai also gave me some helpful tips for overcoming anxiety when presenting, such as stepping back from your work and trying to find the humor or making fun of yourself during the presentation.
Do practice runs
Public speaking anxiety is nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s a common fear that many people share, and I’m no exception. My first time presenting in front of the class was nerve-wracking.
Nevertheless, my experience didn’t have to be a bad one if I had taken the time beforehand to prepare myself for it. This simple guide outlines a few tips and tricks that helped me overcome my fear of public speaking and online pharmacy also helps me alot; perhaps it can help you too!
#1 Research what will happen during your presentation ahead of time, so you know what you are getting into.
Smile more often
Starting to smile more often is a straightforward but effective strategy for not being nervous about a presentation. It will help lower your heart rate and release tension in your face, decreasing the chances of something going wrong. Plus, it’ll give you more confidence, showing when you’re speaking.
Take deep breaths
It would help if you took deep breaths to stay calm before public speaking. I’ve found the easiest way to do this is by counting out a few slow breaths and envisioning myself in a calming environment.
Taking deep breaths gets your blood flowing and reduces the intensity of your nerves, making you feel more at ease when you stand up in front of people. If that doesn’t work for you, there are plenty of other tricks and tips.
Ask others questions
Public speaking can be scary. Sometimes, we’ll avoid any opportunity to speak in public and get a panic attack as soon as it becomes necessary. Other times, we might feel anxious and make mistakes when we do speak up.
But I’ve realized that no matter how much I try to push my fear away, it’s still there especially when I have a speech ahead of me. To face my fear head-on, I researched the subject: tips for public speaking anxiety that could help lessen my dread and make the process more manageable.
Remember that your audience is on your side
Public speaking is never accessible, but knowing how not to be nervous for a presentation can help you feel more prepared and less anxious about the task at hand. Whether you are presenting in front of a large audience or a small classroom, some tips can help you conquer your fear.
Make sure to practice well before going live and think about how much worse it would be if this were your dream job, so don’t shy away from public speaking because no one wants to speak when they are scared. It might sound corny, but it sometimes helps to pretend the audience is on your side.
It’s important to remember that everyone gets nervous, and presentations make us vulnerable in an unusual way. Find an outlet for these emotions, so they don’t take over.
Record yourself and watch back
Hello, my name is AJ. I am a public speaking coach. When I was younger, I had severe speech anxiety. The mere thought of speaking in front of an audience could cause my chest to tighten and have palpitations.
If you felt like throwing up and passing out at the same time. As soon as I knew scheduled a presentation for me at work or school, my stomach would twist into knots and turn sour just thinking about it made me feel physically ill with stress.
Taking control of this fear took me some time, but with patience and hard work, public speaking has become a skill that I am proud of today!
Create a sheet ready if you need to
Public speaking can be a nightmare for people with a fear of public speaking, but there are many tricks you can use to help get through it. For example, if you are distracted by someone in the audience, try focusing on them by making eye contact. Another tip is to remember that you’re only giving your speech for 30 minutes; it will not last forever.
Go slowly over everything before going live
To prepare for the worst-case scenario, I booked an online lab test in Pakistan before I made my TEDx Talk. As soon as I booked the ticket, I felt a sense of relief wash over me, and my fear started to dissipate. Of course, there’s always possible another worst-case scenario lurking around the corner, but if all goes well, this is insurance against everything going wrong.
