How can I overcome my fear of public speaking? Here are 9 strategies.
Hypnotherapy and Hypnobalancing™ in Berlin
How to overcome the fear of public speaking
Learn more about 9 strategies for overcoming the fear of public speaking. And if it is more than just nervousness there is also help through hypnotherapy with Hypnobalancing™.
Overview
- How can I overcome my fear of public speaking?
- What is this fear of public speaking?
- 9 strategies to overcome the fear of public speaking
- Just ask me personally
- P.S.
- Comments
How can I overcome my fear of public speaking?
There are two types of speakers.
Those who get nervous and those who are liars.
Mark Twain
The most common phobia that people have is the fear of public speaking. Some people say they fear it more than death. A common question in my practice is; “How can I overcome my fear of public speaking?”. The fear of public speaking is a common phenomenon, a form of performance anxiety.
What is this fear of public speaking?
Most people fear they’ll get up on stage and forget what to say. What happens when their mind will go blank, and they’ll stumble and mumble and totally screw the whole thing up?
The intensity can range from slight nervousness to paralyzing fear and panic. Over time, many people try to protect themselves by either avoiding public speaking or by struggling against speech anxiety. Many people with a fear of public speaking avoid public speaking situations altogether, or they suffer through them with shaking hands and a quavering voice.
With preparation and persistence, you can overcome your fear.
9 Strategies to overcome the fear of public speaking
These strategies for overcoming the fear of public speaking may help:
1. Be thoroughly prepared
The better you understand what you’re talking about the less likely you’ll make a mistake or get off track. And if you do get lost, you’ll be able to recover quickly. Take some time to consider what questions the audience may ask and have your responses ready.
2. Practice, practice, practice
Practice your complete presentation several times. Do it with a professional trainer you feel comfortable with. When it comes to public speaking, some of us tend to kick ourselves over every little-perceived mistake we make. We magnify our imperfections while ignoring all that’s good and well. Professionals give you the feedback you need.
3. Learn and use breathing techniques
Effective breathing techniques can be very calming. Therapists and presentation trainer know those techniques.
4. Make yourself familiar with the pace you will speak
Spent some time at the place where you will give your speech or presentation.
5. Visualize yourself giving the speech
See yourself going through every step of the speech, from the walk to the stage to the applause at the end. Visualize the outcome you want. Positive thoughts can help decrease some of your negativity about your social performance and relieve some anxiety. If you can do it in a trance, your hypnotherapist can support you doing it.
6. Give up the belief that you have to be perfect
Be yourself!
7. Don’t try to memorize every word
You don’t want to memorize the entire speech but instead focus more on the introduction and conclusion of your presentation. There is no need to memorize every word of any speech. Attempting to do so will simply increase stress, and cause greater nervousness if the sequence of the words you’re trying to memorize goes amiss. You are not a robot and the audience prefers to see you as a human. When you are interested in your subject and prepared you will give a far more interesting speech talking about it in a natural style. That is also the reason why you don’t read your presentation word for word from a script. Speaking is creating an impact with your content and personality, so that not only is your message understood, your professional profile rises.
8. Put the past behind you
Ask a coach or therapist to help you to integrate past bad experiences.
9. Connect with your audience
Remember that audiences almost always want a speaker to succeed, and they want to hear the speaker’s message. Find a few friendly faces in the audience and focus on them during your presentation. Ask your presentation trainer to be in the audience.
If it isn’t just nervousness
Nervousness or anxiety in certain situations is normal, and public speaking is no exception. Known as performance anxiety, other examples include stage fright and test anxiety. However, people with severe, debilitating performance anxiety that includes anxiety in other social situations may have social anxiety disorder also called a social phobia. Social anxiety disorder may require special treatment.
Help
The first thing to realize is that if you plan on living a successful life, you’re going to have to speak in public sometimes. It’s only going to get better if you face up to it. The earlier you start doing it the better because the longer you wait, the more pressure you’ll feel. Learn how to be confident in front of a crowd. With a combination of hypnotherapy, Hypnobalancing, and other methods you can leave this vicious cycle and even realize that public speaking can be such a positive experience.
Just ask me personally.
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Published: March 3, 2008
Author: Karsten Noack
Revision: January 17, 2025
Translation: May 6, 2013
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AN: #34336