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Steps to Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking

It is not unusual to have a fear of public speaking. Most of us go through that. However, what most of us do not realize is that this fear that we have can actually hinder us from stepping out and grabbing opportunities for learning, and possibly from advancing in our studies and in our careers.

You would be missing out a lot of you let yourself be blocked from bettering yourself by your fear of public speaking. And so, it is important for you to overcome it. Of course, it is never easy to overcome our fears, but as you take the first few steps towards getting over it, you would soon realize that each step you take is a step towards shedding your fear of public speaking until you are no longer afraid of it at all.

Here are a few steps that could help you overcome your fear of public speaking:

  1. Volunteer for any opportunity that comes your way to speak in front of a group. Offer to be that person to deliver that presentation on a special project your team did at the office. Or, in a social gathering, offer to introduce the guest speaker. Start small, and then gradually go for the bigger roles as you feel your confidence increase. Seizing these opportunities is the first big step towards overcoming your fear of public speaking.

  2. One of the factors that can trigger a person’s fear of public speaking is lack of knowledge on the subject matter, coupled with lack of preparation. So, to get over your fear of public speaking, make sure that you only speak on the subjects that you are not only knowledgeable on but also care about. If you have to speak on what you do not know, make sure that you research on it. To make it easier for you, write down an outline of your talk, organize it so that it is flowing logically, and then rehearse your speech before the big event.

  3. Part of the rehearsal of your speech is to check out the venue where you would be giving your talk. Prepare visual aids if you need them. Also, coordinate with the organizer if you need any piece of equipment for your talk.

  4. On the big day, put yourself in a positive mindset about your talk. This will put your fear of public speaking at bay. Dress in something that would make you look professional, but without sacrificing comfort. Show up early so you would not arrive at the venue harassed and so you would have time to relax.

  5. Once you step up in front of the crowd, never begin your talk by telling your audience that you are nervous. You are setting yourself up for failure and triggering your fear of public speaking. Besides, if you talk clearly and audibly, your audience will not even notice your nervousness.

After the talk, mingle with your colleagues and ask them for some constructive criticism about your talk. In this way, you will find out which areas you would need to improve on. Improving on these weak areas will actually help you overcome your fear of public speaking.

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