Hopefully knowing that you're not alone in feeling nervous about giving a speech in front of an audience can give you some peace of mind. According to research, PSA, one of the most prevalent types of anxiety in today's society, affects one in every five persons. The good news is that previous research has shown that you may still do well during any type of public speaking or presentation if you have the correct strategies in place for overcoming your concerns. Therefore, I've compiled a few of these tactics below.
Take a deep breath
If you're not careful, you can easily push yourself into an anxiety attack when you're anxious because your heart rate increases and you start to perspire. Spend a few minutes before your speech closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths to assist you manage all of these reactions. Become more relaxed so you may approach the podium (or speaking area) feeling somewhat at ease rather than wildly agitated.
Acknowledge Your Anxiety
The stage may make even the most seasoned public speakers uneasy. It will probably be easier for your anxiety to shine through the more you try to hide it. Although it may seem counterintuitive, acknowledging your anxiety when speaking might help you and your audience feel more at ease. It gives you the opportunity to confront your anxiety and move forward, so you feel relieved that the information is now public.
Be Aware of Your Hand Movements
Have you ever engaged in an argument with someone whose hands were flailing around? Some people instinctively speak while using their hands. When someone is worried, they may make more of these kinds of gestures. It's important to avoid letting your hand gestures distract from what you're saying, even when doing so is a great way to emphasize certain points. So be aware of your hands as you speak. By slowing down both your thoughts and their action, they might be able to soothe you more.
Move a little bit, but not a lot. When they're nervous, folks usually pace. If this applies to you, you could have a tendency to walk about the podium when giving speeches. Similar to how hand movements are okay in moderation, movement in excess is, well, excessive. You shouldn't be afraid to leave the stage, but you also shouldn't make your audience feel like they're witnessing a tennis match.
Practice consistently
A good spontaneous speech typically requires some preparation time. Therefore, your fear of public speaking could have its roots in your lack of preparedness. You will succeed in getting over this by practicing, practicing, and practicing some more. As you deliver talks in the future, you'll feel more at ease. Your self-assurance in presenting it in person will grow as you start to fully master it.
As a final piece of advise for public speaking, record your voice to help you understand how you might sound to an audience. By recording and listening to your own voice, you can find yourself saying things that you weren't even aware of. As a result, there is an opportunity to address these issues before to playing in front of a live audience. Another option is to let a friend or relative hear what you have to say before requesting their unvarnished opinion. Goodluck!!!