Public Speaking

photo credit: Arbron

The fear of public speaking is ranked as the top fear that most people have. It actually ranks higher than death. Think about that for a minute.

At a funeral the individual saying those kind words, there’s a good chance he’d rather be the one in the coffin.

In many ways the fear of public speaking is irrational. We are by nature social creatures. We talk with our family, friends and co-workers on a regular basis. We do it without thinking about it. When we go out to eat we interact with our server and we think nothing of it. Yet, somehow when we are required to stand up and address a room where no one will be talking back we get cold feet. Our insides get all twisted up, we feel panicked, we begin to sweat and we start thinking of how we can get out of the situation.

Sound familiar?

I’ve been there. While I’m comfortable with public speaking, I thank my high school drama classes for this, I still get a little nervous when I’m about to address a new crowd. However, this is quickly overcome when I bring my mind into focus about the task at hand.

The fear of public speaking isn’t so much about having to talk in front of a group of people. Rather it is about everything surrounding the talking. Let’s be honest, if you in a situation that requires you to speak in public there is most likely a good reason for it. Perhaps you are a local expert, you belong to a community group, you speaking to co-workers. Whatever the situation might be you have a good reason to be there. So why are you so afraid?

The answer is deceptively simple; you’re concerned about how you will be perceived. What if you screw up? What if you forget a line? Blow the punch line in your intro joke? What if you stutter. The reality is if you’re concerned about one or several of these things the chances are greater that one of them will occur. You need to take the focus off yourself. Stop worrying about what people will think of you. Start focusing on why you are there.

If you are in a meeting at work delivering last months performance numbers and the CEO steps into the room, what has changed? Nothing. You are still delivering a report about last months performance. So deliver that report and do it with confidence. Think about what would happen if you didn’t deliver that report? Everyone else in the room who needs that information would be at a disadvantage and be unable to do their job completely.

Remember if you don’t deliver your message no one else is going to do it for you. By focusing on why you are there the other perceptions of how you will be seen disappear.

Of course there are some tips and tricks you can use to make you feel more comfortable about speaking in public. Remember to do the following:

• Have notes prepared. Don’t try to wing it as you will probably mess up or pass on incorrect information. Even the most successful public speakers have prepared notes, or have their speech written out. You should do the same.
• Take a few deep breaths before you begin. This will help to center you and allow you to focus on the task at hand. It will also ease those last minute jitters.
• Have a glass of water handy. Speaking for a long period of time will dry your mouth out and may cause your voice to crack or get gruff. Use the glass of water, don’t be afraid of it. Find a natural break, drink some water and scan your notes before you begin again.
• Find a target. If you are speaking to a large room it can often be helpful to find a spot on the wall just above the heads of those in the back. Make this spot your focal point. While you want to be seen looking at the different parts of the room, if you feel yourself starting to drift bring yourself back to the focal point. Drink some water and keep going.
• Remember to speak up! We’ve all been to a function where someone has given a speech and no one has heard it. Don’t be that person. You were given a voice so use it.
• A word about microphones. If you are new to public speaking and haven’t had much practice with a microphone. Try to find an opportunity before you begin to test the volume levels and ensure you are speaking into the microphone properly.

Public speaking doesn’t have to be a nightmare or cause for panic. We are social creatures by design. Remember that your audience is likely to forgive you for messing up the punch line, for stuttering, or having your voice crack. Most important of all, enjoy it. You are speaking to this group for a reason, they want to hear what you have to say. So have fun and remember that you don’t really want to be the one in the coffin.