How Do You Manage Fear Of Public Speaking?
Fear of public speaking is the #1 fear of all fears (according to the book of lists. The fear of dying is #7). In the words of the great Mark Twain: “There are two types of speakers: those that are nervous and those that are liars”. Our bodies are programmed from prehistoric times to respond to fear with fight or flight–fight that mastodon or run out of its way. But that surge of adrenalin no longer serves us when we give a talk. So, now, we have to learn to manage it. Be prepared. The more practiced you are and the better you know your material, the less stress you are likely to feel when presenting it. Practice to friends and family. Practice to a tape recorder and then listen for possible improvements you could make. Give your speech to yourself in front of a mirror and notice your hands, head and facial expressions. Be sure to practice out loud. Be realistic. What’s the worst that could happen? Well, you could die. OK: 1) that’s not very likely, and 2) if you’re dead, the speech w
