How to stay calm during public speaking

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Natalia Cheremshinskaya, teacher of public speaking, TV presenter and media trainer, prepared a post for Lifehacker with tips on how to overcome fear of the audience and enjoy speaking.

Best defense is attack.

Alexander the Great

Fear of public speaking is one of the most common phobias on planet Earth. Who among us has not shuddered at the thought that after a while, we will have to test ourselves as an orator and speak to a strict audience with a report on a complex and confusing topic? Defense of a thesis at the university, a report to the board of directors, a meeting with business partners, congratulations on the holidays with friends and acquaintances - any situation, even an everyday situation, can become stressful for a novice rhetorician.

The behavior of an unprepared person for such overstrain often aggravates his unenviable position, which leads to a loss of self-control, panic and, as a result, the failure of public speech. It is possible to avoid an oratorical fiasco by using several techniques of professional rhetoricians, which are primarily aimed at relaxing the speaker and removing internal "clamps" and stiffness …

When our body is influenced by irritating or exciting factors, a person unprepared for stress takes a "defensive position".

It is manifested by an abundance of fussy, "garbage" movements and phrases: someone with a reinforced concrete grip clasps their fingers in the lock, others lose their firmness and confidence in their voice or use parasitic words "well," "like", "eh -uh ". Such nuances betray your fear of the audience, your desire to close yourself off from it, or even better, to run away.

Imagine that you are about to give a presentation. Why are all these people gathered in the hall? Do you think they just came to watch you and your mistakes? Or do they want to hear what you are about to tell? The audience is rather interested in you, your knowledge, thoughts, ideas.

Your viewers are deliberately friendly. They always give you a certain amount of confidence and are willing to let you get nervous at the start of a show.

What are some specific actions that can help you control your nervousness before a performance?

1. Try to choose an interesting topicyou are well versed in, and be sure to get ready to perform. Some people rely entirely on improvisation. It can work, but more often it leads to disaster. This method is especially loved by managers, because they rarely receive realistic feedback - subordinates will praise, even if during the boss's speech they spent all their energy so as not to fall asleep. You should be in the subject so much that it doesn't matter to you whether you speak for two minutes or two hours, speak to professionals or explain the essence of the problem to your mother. Good preparation and a fun topic will give you confidence.
2. Schedule your speaking order. Remember the institute session: for some it is more comfortable to “shoot” at the exam in the forefront, while someone likes to walk under the office longer, to calm down from the fact that the others have passed successfully, and then go to get a ticket. The principle is the same.
3. Initial pause. Take a deep breath in and out before speaking. Breathe in again and begin.

Remember, you are not alone: About 20% of already experienced speakers feel a lot of excitement every time they go out in public. In addition, a little excitement is useful: it mobilizes the strength of the body, forcing it to perform better. The irony is that the best way to "protect" yourself from the audience is to completely abandon self-defense, to give all the attention to the audience, and not to yourself and your fears. Have fun!