6 Ways To Conquer Your Fear Of Public Speaking
For a long time, I coped with my fear
of public speaking by finding excuses not to do it. But in 1995, when a
group of young entrepreneurs asked me to present for them, I had a hard
time saying no. So after weeks of sleepless nights, I found myself –
heart racing, palms sweating – taking the stage to face 400 of my peers.
And then came the tunnel vision.
Although it was scary, I committed to the moment. As I kept speaking, my vision cleared and I got more comfortable. When it was over, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment and was even able to stick around after to chat with the audience.
Twenty years later, I’ve spoken at
hundreds of events. I still get butterflies, but it’s gotten infinitely
easier – which is good because speaking well is strongly linked to career success: it gives you the ability to motivate people and creates a perception of authority, too.
Despite the documented benefits, 74% of people are terrified to get in front of an audience. But if you’ve got a business to run and a story to tell, it’s time to face that fear and embrace the power of public speaking . Here’s how.
Embrace The Nerves
To this day, I still get nervous before I talk. What’s helpful is acknowledging that we get nervous because we care deeply about the audience and our message. Although the rapid heartbeat and sweaty palms may make it feel like you’re headed for disaster, studies show that performance actually peaks under moderate stress levels that activate your body and keep you alert. (And remember, public performance can be scary for even the pros – just think, now you and Adele have something in common!)
And then came the tunnel vision.
Although it was scary, I committed to the moment. As I kept speaking, my vision cleared and I got more comfortable. When it was over, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment and was even able to stick around after to chat with the audience.
Despite the documented benefits, 74% of people are terrified to get in front of an audience. But if you’ve got a business to run and a story to tell, it’s time to face that fear and embrace the power of public speaking . Here’s how.
Embrace The Nerves
To this day, I still get nervous before I talk. What’s helpful is acknowledging that we get nervous because we care deeply about the audience and our message. Although the rapid heartbeat and sweaty palms may make it feel like you’re headed for disaster, studies show that performance actually peaks under moderate stress levels that activate your body and keep you alert. (And remember, public performance can be scary for even the pros – just think, now you and Adele have something in common!)
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