Fear of public speaking, or fear of making a presentation to group of people, is in fact one of the most common fears out there - but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with.
What is there to fear?
We fear that once we're up there in front of all those people we'll forget what we're supposed to say, or that they'll laugh at us, or stare at us with a blank expression wondering what the heck we're talking about. We feel this fear because any of these things could happen, we simply don't know.
What's important to remember is that no one in the audience wants to see you mess up. If you've ever sat through a dull, boring, poorly orchestrated presentation you'll know what I mean… You kind of keep hoping things will get back on track and liven up so your smile can be genuine for a while…
How do you overcome this fear?
There are a number of techniques one can use to overcome the fear of public speaking, including breathing and relaxation techniques, improving your public speaking ability through training, and by visualisation and similar methods.
In a nutshell the more prepared you are and the more you've practiced, the better your presentation is likely to go. Most of the fear we experience regarding public speaking is unfounded, and with the realisation that our audience can't actually tell how nervous we are, and indeed want us to succeed, it becomes easier for us to see that there isn't as much pressure as we thought, allowing us to give a much smoother and more fluent presentation.
Want to know how to use the techniques to overcome the fear of public speaking? Click here to read 7 Tips to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking.
Staff Training is a soft skills training provider with more than 40 workshops on offer. Contact us at info@StaffTraining.co.za or call (021) 839 3021.