Why do people fear public speaking?
People fear being laughed at or being ridiculed. We fear that what we say may not make sense to others. We fear that we do not possess a certain degree in the command and competence of the spoken language. We fear of making mistakes. We simply lack the confidence and the courage to face an audience. We are too self-conscious of how others judge us, the way we dress, the way we carry ourselves, and the way we speak.
Myths & Misconceptions
We do not have to be great to speak, but we need to speak if we wish to be great, in our profession, our business, our career, to succeed in life. It is a myth and a misconception, that speakers are born. We can be trained, if we are guided, mentored and coached, to be a confident and competent speaker and communicator. Anxiety and stress can be managed and minimised. We just need to plan, prepare and practise before we present.
Conquer the Fear & Overcome the Nervousness
We cannot conquer the fear of public speaking. Neither can we overcome the nervousness when asked to speak or present before an audience. These can be managed and minimised. Learning from accomplished trainers, speakers and presenters help us to improve.
Speaking and presenting are critical and crucial skills in today’s competitive world.
We simply cannot ignore them if we are to advance in our personal life and in our career.
Speak at every opportunity available, at social functions, at staff meetings and at various events. Read extensively and expansively so that we have an idea of different issues and concerns around us, locally, regionally and internationally. Knowing one’s topic and knowing the audience help tremendously. We can be better, but we can never be perfect. Perfection is a destination we need to continuously work towards.
Types of Presentation
Identify the differences between ‘presentation’ and ‘communication’. A presentation and a speech serve different purposes and functions.
We need to identify whether our presentation is one of persuasion, information, entertainment, humour, instruction, motivation or inspiration. The specific purpose has to be decided and determined.
To succeed, it is essential to plan, prepare and practise for a talk, a speech or a presentation.
Speaking Impromptu
There are various tools, tactics and techniques that we can acquire and employ to handle any situation when asked to speak impromptu (extemporaneously).
“The purpose of language is to express, not to impress.” By speaking correctly, clearly and creatively, we can impress upon our audiences.
