Fear Of Public Speaking: Overcoming The Fear And Riding The Adrenalin - Video Interview
Let's face it, most people have a fear of public speaking. Whether you are asked to make a speech at a friends' wedding, or to stand up in front of the board and make a presentation, you can bet that those butterflies in your stomach will kick in sooner or later.
For some people the very thought of having to step up in front of a crowd, even if it's made up of people they know, is enough to silence them completely. It's one thing knowing what you want to say, but when all of those eyes are boring into you, and the room silently awaits you to take control of proceedings, sometimes the words just refuse to come, or just as bad, they come rattling out like a machine gun.
Speaking expert Mike Aguilera says it doesn't have to be that way. People very often build themselves up so much that by the time they approach the stand to make a speech or presentation, they're already a nervous wreck.
Overcoming the fear of public speaking is not an insurmountable task, Mike argues. In this video interview, he talks through the main hurdles that you need to overcome to become a confident public speaker.
Read on to find out what they are.
Overcoming fear of public speaking, then, is simple if you follow Mike Aguilera's key advice. The solution to fear-free presentations and public speaking engagements is to:
Demystify
One of the main causes of the fear of public speaking is the mystification of the process. Mike Aguilera says:
''Demystify where it comes from. In many cases its just by mass media. People are told 'you're going to be nervous'. So it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. In some cases it's a bad experience, that they've either experienced in childhood, in school, being ridiculed in class or watching somebody. So once you get that understanding, then you can control the nerves.''
Step one to avoid being paralyzed by fear, then, is to ignore the hype, and the little voice in your head that tells you that this is going to be a negative experience, and a reason to panic. Okay, you say, but that's easier said than done. Very often feeling those public speaking nerves is a physical thing, it's not something that you can just switch off. That's true, but, says Mike Aguilera, those physical signs can be your ally rather than your enemy.
Those feelings you are translating as fear and panic are adrenaline in action. Don't fight it, let it take your speaking to the next level. Adrenaline doesn't have to be interpreted as panic or fear - ride it, embrace it, and let it heighten your performance. Mike says about this:
''Embrace the adrenaline. Most people think 'uh-oh I have butterflies, that means I'm nervous', and there's a self-fulfilling prophecy also there, where they start to say 'uh-oh, now my palms are getting sweaty, now I'm really nervous.''
Let that adrenaline give you an edge, let it inspire you, but don't panic and worry about those natural physical responses, you can put them to good use rather than falling apart over them. So, one technique is to demystify the whole process, the other is simply to rehearse. Mike says:
''Rehearse in your mind, preparing for the audience, imagining the group of audience. And a reason a lot of people get the adrenaline rush is simply because its a natural reaction for the body to say 'I need more energy, there're more people around, there are more eyes.''
Take control of the internal dialogue
What makes the difference between panicking at the crucial moment, then, and entering into a fluent, arresting speech or presentation?
Mike Aguilera would argue that you need to take control of the internal dialogue, that battle of the two little voices in your head when you're up there, frozen, on stage. He says:
''At the moment, what tends to happen is, the internal dialogue, you're talking to yourself, and so you need to change that conversation from "uh-oh, I'm nervous, I'm frozen' to 'okay, what can I do to stay on track, what's my outcome, what do I need to do to stay relaxed.''
The key here is to stay focused on your outcome, your communication goal. What is this outcome, and how can you make sure you stay focused on it? Mike says:
''Do I want my audience to buy my product or service? Do I want them to be motivated? From that certain thought, your mind starts to kick into gear.''
By remaining entirely focused on your central goal - the final outcome of your message, you will be well equipped to stay on target and get through your presentation or speech with ease. When you let the voice of doubt chip away at you, you are losing focus on what it is you need to be communicating.
Overcoming fear of public speaking is all about ensuring that you are well rehearsed, and that you keep your eye on the outcome. That way those nagging fears can be brushed aside, and the adrenaline can be used to keep things moving. Your internal enemies can become your public speaking allies.
posted by
Michael Pick
on Friday, December 1 2006
Tuesday, January 15 2008
URL of this article:
http://masterview.ikonosnewmedia.com/2006/12/01/fear_of_public_speaking_overcoming.htm
