Glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, is one of the more common fears out there. It is estimated that approximately 75% of people actually experience some degree of glossophobia or anxiety when it comes to speaking in front of an audience, while some people even rate their fear of public speaking over their fear of death.
There are thankfully ways to help overcome this paralyzing fear of public presentations that can help you give calm, cool, and collected speeches to audiences of nearly any size:
- Write your script out ahead of time. – Scripting out your presentation ahead of time allows you to consistently practice your verbiage and think through your ideas again before you present it to an audience. This will help you deliver a smoother, more confident and impactful presentation. If you are using slides or visual aides of the sort, writing a script is still important. Scripts should not, however, be read from verbatim while actually presenting. Make sure that you know your material, but do not read like a robot.
- Try recording yourself or giving a test presentation.– As cringeworthy as it may seem to some people, recording yourself is the only way that you will get to see what your audience will experience during your presentation. Video recording is the best option as it allows you to assess your body language and movement while delivering the speech, but audio recording will also help you identify any verbal problems. If you are able, ask someone to watch you give a test presentation and ask for his or her honest feedback. A live audience will be able to help point out problems as they are happening so that you can correct them in real-time.
- Remember to find a way to engage with your audience. – The most effective public speakers know that audience engagement is something that can make or break your presentation. As a presenter, you must figure out how you can make a connection with your audience so that you make a lasting impact. You can accomplish this by inviting audience members to ask questions or voice their own opinions, or even by simply mentioning someone in the room.
- If you’re still fearful, consider training.– Training is the best way to get rid of your public speaking fears. At Communispond, we offer our Executive Presentation Skills®training seminars to help participants gain confidence and alleviate nerves through the building of skills. Our two-day, facilitator-led programs teach participants how to organize presentations in a persuasive manner and deliver them to an audience of any size. We also video record participants so that they can watch their own progress while overcoming their nerves.
Are you ready to become a fearless presenter? Click hereto find an Executive Presentation Skills®seminar near you!