Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking: Practical Steps and Encouragement for Success

Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking

According to most studies, the number one fear for people is public speaking. Number two is death. - Jerry Seinfeld

If you have a fear of public speaking, you are not alone. The first step is to recognize what fear is. Fear is the anticipation of pain. Is your fear real or imagined?

Here are some great insights into Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking.

Steps to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking -

1. Fears - The fear of being judged, making a mistake, not measuring up, or getting hurt either mentally or physically can hinder a good performance (speech, seminar, sales presentation, etc). Remember that the audience genuinely wants you to succeed. Nobody is standing there hoping you will be boring or bad. If you come from an authentic place and present the material clearly, you have won three-quarters of the battle with fear.

2. Learn how to enroll and engage your audience - If you have not taken a professional development course on public speaking yet, consider finding a public speaking training course that suits your needs. Mastering the art of public speaking can improve your outcomes in a boardroom, during a sales presentation, and even expedite your career growth. It is an essential skill for executives and business owners.

3. Practice - Seek out business organizations, networks, and clubs in your area (such as Toastmasters) that can provide you with opportunities to practice. Remember to choose topics on which you are already an expert. Speaking on a topic you are unfamiliar with will escalate your stress and hinder your performance.

4. Use recording software - Record all your presentations on your PC/laptop. Review them to identify areas for improvement. Invite experienced speakers to attend your live presentations and provide feedback. Allow yourself to learn something new every time you speak.

5. Remember, even top professionals learn something new every time they speak!

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According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. - Jerry Seinfeld

If you have the fear of public speaking, you are not alone. You must first recognize what fear is. Fear is the anticipation of pain. Is your fear real or imagined?

Here are some great insights into Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking.

Steps to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking:

1. Fears - The fear of being judged, making a mistake, not measuring up, getting hurt either mentally or physically can get in the way of a good performance (speech, seminar, sales presentation, etc). Remember that people in the audience really want you to succeed. Nobody is standing there hoping you'll be boring or bad. If you are coming from an authentic place, and you cover the material with clarity, you've won 3/4 of your inner battle with fear.

2. Learn how to enroll and engage your audience - If you haven't yet taken a professional development course on public speaking, consider finding a public speaking training course appropriate for your needs. Learning the art of public speaking can enhance your results in a boardroom, in a sales presentation, and even accelerate your climb up the corporate ladder. It is a must-skill for any executive and/or business owner.

3. Practice - Find business organizations, networks, and clubs in your area (such as Toastmasters) that can afford you the opportunity to practice. Remember to choose topics that you are already an expert on. Speaking on a topic that you are not familiar with will increase your stress and impede on your performance.

4. Use recording software - Record everything on your PC/laptop. Review it to see where you can improve. Have speaking pros attend your live presentation to give you feedback. Allow yourself the opportunity to learn more every time you go out.

5. Remember, even the top professionals learn something new every single time they go out!