You are not the only one who suffer from Fear of Public Speaking
Corporate Directors, Professors, Managers, Team Leaders, Supervisors and many other people still record that they experience awkward feelings before and or during a speech. This include feelings and symptoms such as headaches, anxiousness, panic attacks, being petrified, having sweaty palms, their mouth gets dry, breathlessness, body is shaking, feeling nauseous, their heart is racing, quivering voice, feel sick to their stomach, can’t sleep the night before the speech and wake up every ten minutes. It’s no joke when you feel all the different emotions. Many people try to avoid public speaking for as long as possible due to all these awkward feelings. As they progress in their career, they realise that they lack the skill to talk in front of a group of people.
“The human brain starts working the moment your are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public" - George Jesse.”
What can I physically do about it?
Mini exercises is one way to eliminate the fear of public speaking.
Stress, nervousness and anxiety cause our mussels to tens up. You need to relax your mussels, because it’s obvious to your audience. Your body language will be affected by tense mussels. The following small mini exercises before your speech can relieve mussel tension fast.
PS: Do not overdo it. Remember, you want to relax during these exercises.
Head – Put your head slowly on one shoulder and then the other while breathing in and out for seven seconds.
Shoulder – roll you shoulders forward while slowly breathing five times and then toll your shoulders backwards five times while breathing slowly.
Hands – Shake your hands as if you just washed them and there is no towel. Audiences can see when your hands are shaking and are an obvious indication that you are nervous. You do not want your audience to see your hands shake.
Legs – If there are stairs outside the venue, walk up and down a couple of times. If there is no stairs, kick your legs lightly forward or go for a short walk.
Mouth – The word COW stretches your jaw mussels to get rid of some tension in your mouth. The “C” letter should be said with a big smile. The “O” will be in a big O form and the “W” end in a small kiss.
Nervous indicators
Your audience cannot see that you are nervous, unless you show them. Your nervousness is exposed by the following indicators.
1.Talking fast – When you talk too fast, your audience will notice that you are stressed out. Pace your talk and pause in between your sentences. A pause helps the listeners to capture what has been said.
2. Moving too much too fast – Speakers who move a lot on stage without purpose, appears very nervous.
3. Fidget – Playing with your wedding ring, a pen, touching your nose all the time, fidget with your clothes etc. distracts your listeners completely.
4. Drinking water too often – best to take a big mouth full, swallow it and get on with your speech.
5. Jittery hands – Your notes will amplify the signs that your hands are shaking. Place your notes on a table or lectern so your hands can be free. Place your hands next to your side if you don’t know what to do with your hands. Never lean on the lectern.
Nervousness is a feeling driven by a meaning – Trevor Ambrose
The fear of public speaking is real, but you can control it.
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