Why Not have a Fear of Public Speaking?
Think about it for a moment. Most of our conversations are one-on-one. Many of those are on the phone where we don’t even have a face to look at while we’re talking. Much of our communication these days is via email and texting.
It’s natural then to feel Uncomfortable when standing in front of a group with ten, twenty, or fifty sets of eyeballs staring at you. You feel naked, all alone, and with nowhere to hide! In that situation, we’re out of our comfort zone. YIKES! Who wants to be Uncomfortable – not me!
We naturally avoid getting out of our comfort zone. That’s too bad, because we know when we get out of our comfort zone – we make it larger! For many, learning begins at the edge of our comfort zone.
The Uncomfortableness of standing in front of an audience will lessen over time with each presentation. It was uncomfortable falling off your bike the first time you rode it, wasn’t it? You picked yourself up, got back on, and tried, again, correct? The same will occur with speaking to an audience. The more times it’s done, the easier it will become.
Less time between those speaking engagements will help, also. Too much time between speaking events will almost feel like starting over. That’s why, if better speaking is your goal, take and make as many speaking opportunities as you can.
There are legitimate reasons to have a Fear of Public Speaking.
If you don’t know what you’re talking about.
If you don’t know the structure for developing and delivering a presentation.
Title
Introduction
Opening
Body
Conclusion
3. Also know, and how to use, all the Verbal Elements and NonVerbal Elements of Delivery for presenting your talk.
4. If you haven’t practiced.
Would serious athletes, musicians, or actors just “show up” for their big match, concert, or play? Absolutely Not!
They constantly work out, practice and rehearse.
Practicing is not optional! The professionals, who speak for a living, practice one hour per minute of presentation. (This is not a misprint!)
Steve Jobs, one of my presentation heroes, would practice weeks for a ninety minute keynote presentation that would introduce a new Apple product or service.
All the above reasons for having the Fear of Public Speaking can be overcome.
Taking and making many Speaking Opportunities will lessen the fear and make you more at ease in front of an audience.
Thoroughly studying a subject, and continually updating your knowledge, will give you the confidence to speak on that topic.
Developing, Practicing, and Delivering a presentation based upon a proven structure, and using all the Verbal and NonVerbal elements of presenting, will help put your best in front of people who came to learn from your presentation.
Practice – Practice – Practice will make you better when the “real” event takes place.
Then there are the What Ifs that contribute to the Fear of Public Speaking.
That’s the subject for the another blog post.
Understand WHY people have a Fear of Public Speaking and WHAT can be done to lessen it and your presentations will be - NO SWEAT!
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About the Author Fred E. Miller is a speaker, an international coach, and the author of the books,“NO SWEAT Public Speaking!” and“NO SWEAT Elevator Speech!”
Businesses, Individuals, and Organizations hire him because they want to improve their Networking, Public Speaking, andPresentation Skills.
They do this because they know:"Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities."
They also know:We perceive really great speakers to be Experts. We like to work with Experts.
He shows them how to: Develop, Practice, and Deliver Fantastic Presentations! with – NO SWEAT!
Services:
Keynote Speaker
Workshop Facilitator
Breakout Sessions
Personal and Group Public Speaking and Presentation Coaching
Crafting Your Elevator Speech, Floor by Floor with – NO SWEAT!
Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities.
We are All Self-Employed!
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions about this post or other posts please contact me: Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com.
Thank you for your continued support. It is greatly appreciated!
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