If the idea of public speaking makes you break out in hives, you’re not alone.
Honestly. A lot of people get scared at the idea of standing in front of a sea of people and actually holding their attention.
In fact, a study revealed that the number one fear most Americans have is, in fact, public speaking.
And what’s in the second spot? Death.
So, what does that mean? Simply put, if you’re the average person at a funeral, you would rather be in the casket than doing the eulogy.
Crazy, right? Is public speaking really that bad?
Well, no. Not even close.
Even though most of the population has a fear of public speaking, it doesn’t have to be a crippling fear – not even for us introverts.
Here are some ways we can get better at public speaking – without breaking a sweat:
Realize that there’s nothing wrong with being an introvert
Read that again if you have to.
I know there are so many movies, books, and TV shows that show introverts “finally” coming out of their shell as a way to show their full transition to the hero.
But honestly? That’s not real life.
You don’t have to change who you are to be better at public speaking. You can be an excellent public speaker and still enjoy reading books in your living room with a nice cup of chamomile on a rainy day. Continue being wonderfully you.
Practice makes permanent
Yep, you read that right. Practice makes permanent, not perfect.
Don’t strive to be perfect, but instead work toward consistently conveying your point to an audience. This means conducting a self-evaluation, but not being too hard on yourself.
Try practicing in front of the mirror. You’ll begin to notice subconscious actions and habits that you can address. Try voice recording on your phone. Count how many times you say “um” or “uhh”. Your progress will be proportional to how honest you are with yourself.
Here’s what to do in front of the crowd
Ok. You’ve got your speech ready. You’ve been practicing in front of the mirror and have finally gotten over the cringe of listening to your own voice on repeat. It’s showtime. Here are some practical tips when speaking publicly:
Fake eye contact
When speaking to a crowd, don’t worry about making eye contact. When you look above someone’s head, this typically gives an audience member the illusion that you’re looking directly at them.
Honestly, looking anywhere in the general vicinity of a person’s face gives the same illusion. Eyeglasses, noses, ears, hair – these can all work as a substitute for looking someone directly in the eyes.
And that’s helpful. After all, you don’t want someone in the audience to distract you and make you forget what you wanted to say.
Reduce visual distractions
If possible, try not to hold anything in your hands. Keep your notes on the podium. Keep your phone in your pocket. Take your watch or bracelet off if you need to. As you move, the item moves and catches the listener’s eye. And that’s bad.
Why? Because they end up more concerned with what your hands are doing instead of what you’re saying.
BREATHE
Yes, I know – it sounds obvious. But it’s easier to forget than you think!
It’s amazing what a deep breath will do before a presentation. If you need to, make notes in your speech for “breath breaks”.
As you may know from experience, it’s easy to stop breathing well when you’re stressed. And that’s an issue because it means less oxygen is traveling to your brain.
So, try to remember to take deep breaths. It will help you calm down, and it will also help improve the natural flow of your speech or presentation. In other words? Breathing deeply helps both you and your audience.
Bottom line
So, there you go. All that’s left for you to do now is apply what you just learned. Yes, it’s easier said than done. I get it.
In fact, I remember going from being a scared elementary school student in speech therapy with a severe stammer to being a scared high school student in a Speech and Debate class. My first speeches were me talking to the floor.
It was bad.
On the bright side, I soon realized that being able to address the crowd didn’t mean I had to change who I was. Learning public speaking was just making me a more well-rounded person. Did it involve a lot of hard work?
Absolutely.
It took practice and being critical of myself to gain self-confidence, but I can confidently say that I can face any crowd now.
And honestly? So can you.
