Let’s face it. Public speaking can be a terrifying endeavor. The pressure of performing can easily get into public speakers’ heads and hinder some of their most fantastic ideas. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 73% of adults are affected by public speaking anxiety, also known as glossophobia. Luckily for us, there are multiple ways for public speakers to channel that nervousness into charismatic speaking power. Some techniques can take your next speaking engagement to the next level.
Here are a few tips to remember the next time you feel nervousness creeping into your mind.
Look at vulnerability as your friend.
Because public speaking anxiety is so prevalent for millions of people around the world, that also means that it is an incredibly relatable trait. Stand in front of your audience and own your nervousness. Address it tastefully through a joke or even a simple statement. Self-deprecating humor can feel uncomfortable if it comes from insecure people searching for affirmation. If you own your nervousness, however, and address it humorously, it can make you, and your audience feel less uneasy. On top of that, being vulnerable with your audience can help you relax as you witness them relating to what you have to say.
Turn your anxiety into increased energy.
The nervous energy that comes with the anxiety you feel before a public speaking engagement is a natural phenomenon that occurs at the chemical level of your brain. When your brain senses that you’re in danger (the very definition of anxiety) it releases chemicals that increase your energy. This activity prepares you for that instinctual “fight or flight” reaction. By realizing what is happening, you can flip that nervous energy into a positive charge. Take a step back and use that energy to transform your fear into an entertaining public speaking engagement, and you’ll never look at that nervousness the same.
Know your material.
One of the best ways to curb anxiety is knowing the material you’re presenting inside and out. If you are unsure about your content, you will likely have an anxiety-riddled experience. By being well prepared, you have less to be nervous about and more about which to be positive. Not only is going over your material more a helpful way to decrease your anxiety, but it also boosts your confidence.
Being a great public speaker does not require a fearless person. It requires someone willing to take steps to become the very best one can be. At Phenomenal Speeches, we take the time to be part of those steps and equip our public speakers with the material they need to make their next speaking engagement their best! Contact us today. Need help? Consider hiring a professional speechwriter.