For some people the thought of public speaking can sound really daunting…although it’s normally not as bad as you think! Many people avoid it altogether, or suffer throughout due to nerves, but with preparation and perseverance you will be able to overcome this fear.
Here are some tips on what you could do to help you overcome this.
- Practise – In order to be confident, it’s important to make sure you have practised what you are going to say, although don’t read it word for word so that you can answer any question that is thrown at you. It’s always better to be prepared and have practised it too many times than not enough.
- Fear will never go away – Fear is something that we need in our lives in order to stop us making bad decisions, however managing your fear properly and not letting it overcome you can turn it into a positive attribute and encourage you to do things outside of your comfort zone.
- Join a speaker’s club – This is a good way to improve your confidence as it will help to improve your public speaking skills and help you gain valuable experience. By joining a club, you can overcome this fear in a safe and encouraging environment and you’ll be surrounded by people supporting each other.
- Find a coach or mentor – Their role is to help you express your thoughts effectively in a private setting, they will help to unpick your nerves and find different strategies to help build up your confidence.
- Speak at every opportunity – In order to become good at speaking in public you need to push yourself. For example, speak more in front of others, the better you become the more confidence you will have!
Don’t forget, even if you feel like you have become more confident, it is still normal to be nervous or anxious and it won’t be something you will suddenly overcome overnight. Remember it’s a working progress, and if you follow these tips you will be heading in the right direction to success!