Public Speaking: Conquer Your Anxiety about Speaking-- Some more tips

July 29, 2007

I do not know if any more instalments are going to come on this topic. Therefore I wish to add a few points on how to overcome the anxiety while speaking to an audience.1)Now that you have accepted the invitation to speak prepare your speech well and prepare the presentation material be it the slides or posters or OHP materials or the presentation software. Take care regarding the size of the letters so that even the audience in the last row should be able to read the material well. The graphs should also be clear. Do not present tables as tables are good reading material but never an aid in speaking unless it is a college classroom where you have to explain each and every datum. Have one rehearsal so that you can ensure that the presentation materials have been arranged properly. 2)Before starting the talk look at the audience for a moment and be pleasant. With a slight pause address the

audience loudly so that even the audience in the last row can hear you well. ( VERY IMPORTANT -- NEVER START WITH A LOW VOICE.) While starting to speak keep your hands locked so that they are available only to make a point through gesture and not for scratching any part of your body during the speech, however much you feel the need to scratch due to nervousness. Stand firm on your feet and do not lean on anything including any table or bench in front of you or behind you.3)Have in your palm a piece of paper, of the size of the visiting card, where you have written the key words representing the topics or stages of the presentation. This will be handy to resume the talk if there be any interruption. In the middle of your talk someone may interrupt by asking clarifications. If you are of the type that would not mind such interruptions then go ahead and reply to the questions. Most probably the person chairing the seminar would tell the audience beforehand to

keep the questions till the question time. 4) If you have an interesting anecdote relevant to your speech then start with that. You will instantly draw the audience to you. Then maintain the eye contact throughout. Do not just look at people you know well. Everybody in the audience deserves your attention like you crave the attention of everybody.5)Of course you must remember that you are eager to tell something to the audience which will be of use to the latter. It could be that there may be some very knowledgeable people in the audience. If you cannot impress them it does not matter. Your responsibility is towards the rest of the audience. May be the knowledgeable ones would like your way of presentation even if the matter is known to them. 6)Inspite of all these efforts there may still be some nervousness. But do not worry. Do you know that during his college days in England even the eminent speaker of yesteryears, the Late Pandit

Jawaharlal Nehru himself, was so frightened to address the audience that he avoided giving seminars in one whole term and he was penalised for that? So even if you falter in one speech you can be sure that it will not happen the second time. Think that the audience is your friend and you can address them as "Friends" to start with. (THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT) Do you know the impact that Swami Vivekananda made when he addressed the audience in the Parliament of Religions in Chicago as Brothers and Sisters of America?"Dr.Y. C.Zala" <yczala wrote: Public Speaking: Conquer Your Anxiety about Speaking Most people, even post graduate students, dread speaking in public. As a P.G. student or professor, you can't avoid public speaking. So how do you deal with your nervousness? Follow these tips from Speak with Confidence: Powerful Presentations that Inform, Inspire, and Persuade and you'll approach your next speaking engagement at ease. Accept your nervousness. Most people feel stage fright or anxiety about speaking in public. Accept it as part of the territory. You'll probably first feel the tension the moment you accept the invitation to speak or learn about the upcoming presentation -- and the anxiety will build as the event nears. Understand your fear. What do speakers fear? That the presentation won't be what the audience expects or wants. Speakers worry they'll be attacked and asked questions that can't be answered. Everyone will find out that they're just faking it all and don't really know what they're talking about. Speakers fear embarrassment. Sure, there are many things to fear, but try to remember the big picture. Ask yourself, "What's the worst that can happen?" If you slip up, will it really matter a year from now? Some anxiety is helpful. Fear can give you the adrenaline rush that you need to be an energizing speaker. There's a substantial body of psychological research that shows that while tremendous anxiety is paralyzing, some anxiety is helpful. It juices you up and provides a surge of energy that is expressed to your audience. Overconfident

speakers, those who don't feel anxiety, often are too relaxed to do a good job and give a compelling presentation. Your anxiety can be a powerful ally - use it to invigorate your presentation. Keep it to yourself. Never tell your audience about your nervousness. Anxiety typically doesn't show. Don't call attention to your nervousness or your audience will suddenly notice your shaking hands more so than your message -- and thus your message will fall on deaf ears. Locate your fans. It's easy to be cowed by a negative nellile in the audience.

Remember that you will never be able to please everyone and you may see a sour puss in the audience. Be prepared for that -- and find your fans. Focus on the faces that are interested, listening. They smile, make eye contact, and give you energy. Don't allow yourself to focus on the negative audience members. This is easier said than done, of course as we naturally want to convince our detractors, but often you won't be able to change their minds and you'll just make your own nervousness worse. Focus on the friendly faces in the audience instead. Use positive self talk. We learn to be fearful; we can also learn to

be confident. Remind yourself that you know your stuff. Visualize yourself succeeding and be your own cheerleader. DELETE button is history. Unlimited mail storage is just a click away.

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