06.06.08
Want to Conquer the Fear of Public Speaking?
The widely held notion about overcoming the fear of public speaking is to imagine that your audience is sitting in their underwear. However, Toni Bowers of TechRepublic offers the following suggestions to overcome your fear:
- Leave nothing to chance. Lay out your strategies, have your material ready, line up a contingency plan (in case something goes wrong), and practice what you’re going to say often and out loud.
- Take a deep breath before the presentation. It is biologically effective at lowering your heart rate, and subsequently, your nervousness.
- Keep it slow and steady. Pause when you need to take a breath; you’ll think better.
- Tell stories. Stories will get your idea across much better than charts and graphs and numbers. They also have the added benefit of helping to engage your audience.
- Prepare for more than time will allow. Time flies when you’re up there, and you may speak quickly out of nervousness.
- Understand that your audience is on your side. They want to hear what you have to say and to see you do well.
Here the link to Toni Bowers article on TechRepublic