Fear of public speaking: 5 questions to help you manage your fear of public speaking

Here are some tips to help you with fear of public speaking.

1) If you were just talking to 1 person what would you say?
The issue is not actually self-conscious but other conscious. When you can be free of what others think of you, then you can be yourself and truly shine. Realise that all the people in the room are likely to know less about you topic than you do (unless of course you are in an exam)

2) What is the opportunity?
Is it really public speaking you are afraid of - or is it the consequence of something imaginary happening? Ask yourself: What is the worst thing that can happen? When you have the answer ask yourself what would happen next,… then what happens, then what… then… the worst thing that happens is often not as bad as we make out or it can be a re-routed opportunity. Whatever does happen you can learn something from it and you can always do better next time.

3) What is the real issue, the 1st trigger?
Mostly, we are not being self conscious enough the rest of the time (when not faced with an audience) to be aware of what is happening to the body and knowing what the initial first symptom is and what exactly triggered it. If we can spend time figuring that out then it becomes much easier to know how to manage it. Read more on this on my stormy weather blog (30-10-12)

You will probably find that it is something that happened in childhood probably at school when you first had to speak up in front of a classroom full of your peers (as you thought-ready to pick on you) and though this probably isn’t relevant any more it can still be the thing that is holding you back now.

4) What is the consequence if you don’t do the presentation?
Rather than focus on what might happen- what might go wrong when you speak in public, figure out what are the consequences of you not doing it. You may realise that doing it (possibly imperfectly) is better than not and this can then motivate you.

5) What is it you want to say?
As Peter Roper puts it: “know what you want to end with, then know where you are starting and massage the middle”. Don’t spend time focusing on all the detail, (unless you are giving a technical lecture) think about what impression you are wanting to put across, what is it you want your audience to get.

Now you have considered all of this do you feel any differently about public speaking? Your comments would much appreciated below.

If you still want more help then contact me and we can discuss how you could move forward and how Body~Mind Coaching can help you overcome fear of public speaking quickly, easily and for good!