Feeling Nervous About Welcoming Speakers? How Do You Overcome the Fear?

Dear Seniors, We have a training session with two facilitators, and I am tasked with welcoming them with a brief speech. I am feeling quite scared and nervous about this responsibility. Please advise me on how to overcome this nervousness and fear. Please help me!

Why are you scared? Just think, "no one is going to kill you for your faults"... after all, you are a human being, not a god. Now, throw your nervousness in the dustbin and start preparing the speech. All the best, and give it your best :)

Ensure a single line break between paragraphs.

Regards

It's common for many individuals to fear facing a crowd. Here are some recommendations for overcoming this fear:

1. If you have enough time, practice the speech in front of a mirror.
2. When giving the speech, avoid fixing your gaze on a single person or angle. Try to engage with the entire group by switching your focus from place to place and person to person.
3. Incorporate some humor into your practice sessions; this can result in a smile on your face when you actually start speaking.
4. Use hand gestures and hold a pen or mobile device—observe the difference it makes.
5. Remember to smile while delivering your speech; it can help reduce nervousness significantly.

I hope these tips help you feel more confident when speaking in front of a crowd.

Hi Prema, this is a wonderful opportunity for you to overcome your fears; don't worry about anything. Just prepare yourself to the fullest.

Preparation for the Speech

Get the summary of the trainers (educational qualifications, achievements, highlights, etc.). Prepare the welcome speech and keep it handy with you on a piece of paper. Learn all the details of the trainers about whom you will be speaking by heart.

Delivery Tips

On the day of the speech, speak to the crowd as if you are speaking among a social circle, but make sure you are professional and polite. Convey the information about the trainers as if you knew them. Speak from the heart, appreciate the achievements as you truly would. Maintain eye contact in all directions slowly and steadily. Never let go of the smile on your face. Keep the welcome speech short.

Handling Nervousness

If you are really nervous, you can use the mic podium. Stand behind the podium and speak, carrying the speech paper with you. If you can't use the podium, then get yourself very familiar with the stage from which you will speak. Go on the platform and rehearse the speech and style again and again; you will start to gain confidence.

Be excited about it; don't fear it. Public speaking requires great effort, and the audience respects those who speak. So don't worry, even if you goof up, it's just a funny incident in your life worth remembering.

Regards

Excellent suggestion by Anil, especially holding a pen or mobile. This somehow will help you. I don't know how, but it helps in controlling your nervousness. Sometimes, our hands and legs shiver during public speaking.

Appreciate all the previous posts for overcoming stage fright. Prema, please take note that there are always people at the podium to help you get rid of the initial inertia. Be at ease, help yourself, and you will find yourself getting used to the occasion.

All the best!
Anandhi

Thank you very much for all your advice and points. Let me face the situation with confidence! I will share my experience once the program is over.

You are feeling nervous because you are visualizing that something may go wrong. Now start visualizing good things, such as the audience clapping after the speech and facilitators being happy listening to it. Take deep breaths a few minutes before the speech. Regard yourself as lucky to have been chosen to give a small speech welcoming the speaker. The audience and staff are all familiar people, so there is nothing to be scared of. Facilitators are teachers, and they will not feel bad even if some mistakes occur. Facilitators are meant to correct your mistakes. So, grab this opportunity, have new experiences, and learn new things.

Thank you.

You are feeling nervous because you are visualizing that something may be wrong. Now start visualizing good things such as the audience clapping after the speech and facilitators being happy listening to it. Take deep breaths a few minutes before the speech. Regard yourself as lucky to have been chosen to give a small speech welcoming the speaker. The audience and staff are all familiar people, so there is nothing to be scared of. The facilitators are teachers, and they will not feel bad even if some mistakes occur. Facilitators are meant to correct your mistakes. So grab this opportunity, have new experiences, and learn new things.

Regards,
Nikhil Sharma, Jaipur

Thank you for all the inputs. Please find attached the e-book on public speaking.

All the best,

Regards

I believe the best approach is to be yourself. Stay natural, just as you are with your colleagues, and remember to smile and make eye contact with everyone. This will help alleviate any fears, as starting anew is a common experience for all of us in life. So, cheer up, buddy! Just rock it - you're the best!

Regards,
Praveena M

Well, guys, it looks like I am the odd one out on this, but how about trying to start with the words...

Respected Faculties,

I'm not sure how you do your jobs so gracefully, enthusiastically, and unhesitatingly, but believe me, I have had to prepare this speech to welcome you and am currently shivering in doing so. At this point, I foresee some laughter from the crowd and the facilitators, and if that does happen, you have conquered their interest in what you have to say. ⚠️ CAUTION - from this point onward, be brief and to the point. Don't forget to tell the facilitators to enjoy themselves and the participants to fully participate and enjoy (if you are supposed to do so).

Cheers!!! 

P.S. Have a wonderful program.

Face Your Fears to Banish Them.

Oh my god... a lot of things have already been discussed. You guys are just amazing. Such a great experience shared by you people. Now, as far as my knowledge is concerned, I have given speeches many times, and twice I just forgot the lines in front of the people. I know it does not sound good, but it happened. At that point in time, it's very important that the speaker should be prepared for the audience to keep listening instead of facing a blank expression. That's what I did. I couldn't speak what I had prepared, but I spoke something related to the topic. And Prema, I am sure you must be a scintillating employee of your organization, that's why you have been chosen. So, just use your good communication skills with a smile. It will definitely sort out the problem.

After reading the speech, you just need to speak, "The way you think is better."

All the Best

Regards,
Vishal

Today afternoon, I have to give the speech. Let me share my experience tomorrow! Thanks a ton for all your advice. I WILL GIVE THE SPEECH WITH CONFIDENCE!

Regards

Please focus on the eyes of the audience and then on the speaker. Approach with confidence that you can deliver a fantastic speech. Begin with a smiling face and welcome, perhaps with a small story if possible. You will undoubtedly become a successful speaker one day.

All the best,
Regards

Ensure you speak in front of the mirror at least three times before facing the audience. All the very best. Enjoy life.

Step 1 - Take the details of the facilitator's name, agency, years of experience, area of expertise, etc.

Step 2 - Simply introduce them with the above-gathered information. Since it is only an introduction, you need not search for any specific words. After the introduction, ask the participants to introduce themselves to the facilitators. Your job will be completed.

Regards,
Kumar Kodukulla

Focus on Facilitators, Not Yourself

In a sense, this is simple. You must not focus on yourself. Your responsibility is to introduce the facilitators and create interest and credibility for them. If you focus on promoting them to the group, it takes the spotlight off yourself. You are doing this for someone else.

Hi Everyone!

My Experience:

With the help of all your advice, I went to the stage and welcomed the first guest. For me, it was a thrilling experience, and I think I did it well! I had one more welcome speech to give in the late evening, which, unfortunately, I did not perform well. But I am happy that at least one I did properly!

Thanks a lot for all your support!

Congo! Never worry about the bad experiences, but remember them for the next preparation. It's nice to know about your experience. I could see the curiosity in all other forum members towards your experience. Good luck.