This week is ‘Face Your Fears’ week which seemed like a good time to launch our new Facebook page. It’s said that Public Speaking causes anxiety (or worse) for up to 75% of people. Most of us steer around the need to speak in public, only seeking help a few weeks or even days before a work presentation or wedding.
Wouldn’t it be better to have gained that experience and confidence well before it’s needed? Think of the ways it would change your life. You will be confident speaking in front of groups. You will be able to quickly think of answers to questions asked of you in a public setting. You will no longer get that feeling of dread when somebody asks if you would mind “standing up and saying a few words”.
Unfortunately, overcoming a fear of speaking in public is not something that’s fixed overnight. If it was, we would all be doing it. Being a confident speaker takes time, and it takes practice.
Like any new skill, with structured and repeated practice you start to build good habits. If you have learnt to drive a car you’ll remember your early lessons. After reading the Highway Code and maybe even passing a theory exam, you got in the car. All of your attention was focussed on clutch control, and changing gears, but with repeated practice that became easier. You later focussed on the positioning of your car on the road, and then using your mirrors you became more aware of other vehicles around you, and so on.
It’s the same with public speaking, first you focus on how you’re standing or what you’re saying, and as you practice, you move your attention to how you’re saying it, and when to move.
You CAN read about how to be a good speaker in a book, or on a blog, and you may even be able to remember every piece of advice you see and hear. You can practice on your own in front of a mirror or video camera (it’s really useful to do this for your own feedback), but it’s not the same as standing up in front of a small group of supportive people who want to listen to you. You’ll only truly improve your public speaking once you experience standing up in front of a living, breathing audience.
Put yourself in the driving seat and start practicing today!