Overcoming The Fear Of Public Speaking - Calm The Butterflies In Your Stomach!

Know this: Overcoming the fear of public speaking isn't hard. You should be relieved to know that nobody has ever died from giving a speech. Feeling like you're going to is another story...

Almost everyone is nervous the first time they get up in front of an audience. Just standing at the podium can be intimidating enough without actually having to speak! Shaky voices, trembling knees, and beads of sweat are usually par for the course for inexperienced speakers.

Why do you think there are so many books, articles, videos, and public speaking organizations, all dealing with overcoming the fear of public speaking?

Because most of the people around the world are as petrified of public speaking as you! Rest assured you are not alone.

As Mark Twain noted:

"There are two types of speakers: those that are nervous and those that are liars".

The good news is that there are many simple steps you can take to help yourself overcome the fear of public speaking. You can learn to send the darn butterflies in your stomach back to their cocoons!

Tip #1: Focus on your breathing. Learn some breathing techniques. Do that every day and every moment you can.

Most new public speakers find themselves short of breath during their first speech or presentation. You may feel like you've just run a marathon. In fact, you may be so nervous you forget to breathe!

Some of you will start to hyperventilate and breathe faster and faster. Audience members may start to question whether they're in the wrong theater. They'll check their ticket to make sure it reads "public presentation" and not "horror play".

One of the first things you can do is focus on your breathing.

Breathing properly will reduce your anxiety and relax your neck and shoulders.

Force yourself to take several long deep breaths and hold them 4-5 seconds. Then exhale slowly, letting out all of the air in your lungs.

Tip #2: Memorize the first few lines of your speech or presentation. Getting off to a wrong start is a surefire way to make you fear public speaking even more.

New speakers are most nervous at the very beginning of their speech. Staring at the audience members for a few seconds can seem like an eternity. This depends on which side of the podium you are standing!

This is why, in overcoming the fear of public speaking, it's important to memorize the opening of your speech or presentation. Practice the first few lines as many times as it takes for you to recite them from memory.

If you don't do this, you may find yourself freezing up. Your mind may go completely blank. This can ruin your entire speech; you may become too distressed to even continue.

Remember, beginning your speech is the most difficult so concentrate on your opening lines!

If you are able to speak the first few lines of your presentation, you'll be surprised how much easier it will be to remember the rest. You're one step ahead in overcoming the fear of public speaking.

Tip #3: Bring point-form notes with you. Use them when necessary during your presentation.

Even great speakers will sometimes bring notes up to the podium. Not everyone is blessed with a photographic memory.

New, inexperienced speakers will usually have a harder time remembering what they were going to say. Saying their speech in front of their bathroom mirror is usually much easier than repeating it in front of a large audience!

Don't be afraid to bring notes to help you during your presentation. Remember, your goal is overcoming the fear of public speaking. You may find yourself getting stuck during parts of your speech or forgetting a few lines. If this happens, discretely glance down at your notes for a little help.

Make sure your notes are brief and in point-form. Don't write out your speech word for word. You want to be able to find relevant notes quickly and easily. You don't want to have to shuffle through page upon page to figure out where you are! This will not inspire confidence in the audience and will make you even more nervous.

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