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Fear of public speaking
I have always had a fear of public speaking. Now coming monday I was informed that there will be a personality development seminar where around 45 to 50 people will be present. I am freaking out right now and am planning to bunk it. I would not have been this much bothered if all 45 of em were boys. There are going to be women as well. That is the main reason for me to chicken out. I have never had women friends as I only hang out with like 3 or 4 guys regularly. I usually bunk a class when someone asks me to take a seminar but right now I am feeling that being 23 its too silly to do that. On the other hand i can not imagine even entering a room with more than 20 people. Sometimes i cut myself as a punishment to the things I do but i do not feel like doing it right now. I am terribly confused. And also to carry around a face full of zits and the scars they leave, my confidence level has hit rock bottom. No offense but I honestly do not know whether I will listen or follow your advice. So its upto to you whether you want to waste your precious time responding to this. If you do, thanks in advance.
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Public speaking can be a problem for many of us, especially if you see yourself like me as an introverted person. So what do I do, I go out and get a job in sales, no problem I'm good in one on one situations. In fact I was too good; I get promoted into group sales. Sure no problem; problem no one told me group sales requires presentations in front of groups of people. as many as 15 maybe more who are the CEO's and COB of the companies we are trying to do business with.
I've made my presentation, 1 on 1, to the Human Resource Director. He/She's on Board I'm 85% on my way to a big pay day a really big payday; I can't chicken out. I've heard there are some tricks you can use to help yourself get past this problem so I start to research what they are.
One of the tricks is to picture the audience in the nude. This won't work for me, I probably will start to get flustered or start to giggle. The other one I found and the one that works for me to this day is: To look around the room and find a pair of eyes that looks welcoming and interested. Then talk to that person as if you are in a 1 on 1 situation blocking out everyone else in the room.
To be a good speaker you have to allow your eyes to roam the room on occasion but you always come back to that person to who you feel comfortable talking to. This takes practice but I mastered it and I have made a darn good living selling and making presentations.
Visual aid usage also helps as you can take time to turn to the visual aid to explain your presentation. Most important though is knowledge of what you are presenting. The better you know your subject matter, the more comfortable you know your subject matter the easier it is to present no matter how much your knees may be knocking.
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Hi. Public speaking is traumatic unless, or until you become, used to it. I am not sure there is any good way to pactice it or set yourself up for the actual experience. It will still be butterflies in your tummy and a cold sweat as you walk out there. It is sometimes a good policy to imagine just one person who is there and do it as though you are talking to them alone. Try and smile at the mass of faces. Try not to speak faster than usual to get it all done and dusted as quickly as possible. Rehearse what you are going to say. Write it down. Read it back. Two sheets of A4 paper looks like a massive speech, until you deliver it. It's all said in just a few minutes! Don't get caught out by this! First time I had to do it was giving presentations as part of a university degree. And in truth, it is all about 'personality development'...and the fact that you might have the best idea on earth, but if you cannot clearly communicate it to others it will never see the light of day. I know, it's scary...but it's character-building mate! I noticed that about half-way through something seemed to switch in my mind and I seemed to be able to hear my own voice as if I was listening to someone else talking....and it suddenly sounded sorted like ' waagh..waagh..waagh...' absolutely rubbish. Apparently it is not that unusal a reaction, so if it happens...expect it and just carry on! It's in your own mind and the people aren't experiencing the switch in any way. Correct a gabbled mistake instantly with an 'I'm sorry...I'll say that again' type comment and a smile. Try not to see this as a threat, see it as a challenge. We are all scared of things, but to go right out and do the thing you fear is what separates the quitters from the winners. If you screw-up you still win...you faced the fear and tried. If you back out and don't try...you lose. It seems easier and more comfortable, true...but you still lost and you know it. THAT is why it's a character-building act of personal development my friend. Now get out there and DO IT!!
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