How can I overcome my fear of public speaking?
Fear of public speaking is a common phobia. It can range in severity from slight nervousness to paralyzing fear and panic. Many people with a fear of public speaking avoid public speaking situations altogether, or suffer through them with shaking hands and a quavering voice — after a night of tossing and turning and worrying. But in most cases, a fear of public speaking can be overcome. These steps can help: • Don’t avoid it. This doesn’t mean you have to jump right in and do a major speech or presentation. It does mean that to overcome your fear you’ll have to face it and take gradual, deliberate steps to gain confidence and skills. If you avoid speaking situations and approach the ones you have to do with dread and without careful preparation, your fear of public speaking won’t improve. It may even become more difficult. • Know your topic inside and out. The better you understand what you’re talking about, the less likely you’ll make a mistake or get off track. And if you do get lost
Fear of public speaking is a common phobia. It can range from slight nervousness to paralyzing fear and panic. Many people with a fear of public speaking avoid public speaking situations altogether, or they suffer through them with shaking hands and a quavering voice. But with preparation and persistence, you can overcome your fear. These steps can help: • Know your topic. The better you understand what you’re talking about, the less likely you’ll make a mistake or get off track. And if you do get lost, you’ll be able to recover quickly. Take some time to consider what questions the audience may ask and have your responses ready. • Get organized. Have the information you want to present carefully planned out ahead of time, including any props, audio or visual aids you’ll use. The more organized you are, the less nervous you’ll be. Use an outline on a small card to keep yourself on track. • Practice, and then practice some more. Practice your complete presentation several times. Do it f
