Most people would rather do anything else but have to get up in front of an audience and speak. It is one of the most confronting and stressful things and most of us, no matter how we try to avoid it, will have to do it from time to time. Performance anxiety (public speaking) can be overcome if you follow some of these simple steps.
The first and most important thing that you need to do to overcome performance anxiety (public speaking) is to be confident with what you are talking about. If you have to give a work presentation, then ensure that you are fully prepared and you have practised what you want to say over and over. If there will be a question and answer session, then you should try to predict the type of questions that will be asked and have a response ready. You do not have to memorize your presentation and answers by heart, but have the key point accessible.
Visual prompts such as PowerPoint or flip charts are a fantastic way to keep your points at the fore of your mind and also to divert attention from yourself. Fewer eyes will be directly on you when you use visual prompts, which takes quite a lot of the pressure off your performance.
It might be helpful to have something in your hands that can make you feel less lonely at the front of the audience. A board marker or a control for the projector can be great tools for adding confidence. This works in the same manner as a child...apos;s blanket or soft toy works.
try to reduce the amount of attention you get by having audiences participate themselves. Getting them to do some kind of activity as an ice-breaker or to brainstorm ideas at the beginning of the presentation can relieve a lot of the tension in the room, making them more open to your information and it will ease you into the presentation.
Performance anxiety (public speaking) is very common. Nevertheless throughout our lives we will usually be called upon to give presentations and it is important that you do your best to remain calm and sound confident in front of your audience and peers. - 32513
The first and most important thing that you need to do to overcome performance anxiety (public speaking) is to be confident with what you are talking about. If you have to give a work presentation, then ensure that you are fully prepared and you have practised what you want to say over and over. If there will be a question and answer session, then you should try to predict the type of questions that will be asked and have a response ready. You do not have to memorize your presentation and answers by heart, but have the key point accessible.
Visual prompts such as PowerPoint or flip charts are a fantastic way to keep your points at the fore of your mind and also to divert attention from yourself. Fewer eyes will be directly on you when you use visual prompts, which takes quite a lot of the pressure off your performance.
It might be helpful to have something in your hands that can make you feel less lonely at the front of the audience. A board marker or a control for the projector can be great tools for adding confidence. This works in the same manner as a child...apos;s blanket or soft toy works.
try to reduce the amount of attention you get by having audiences participate themselves. Getting them to do some kind of activity as an ice-breaker or to brainstorm ideas at the beginning of the presentation can relieve a lot of the tension in the room, making them more open to your information and it will ease you into the presentation.
Performance anxiety (public speaking) is very common. Nevertheless throughout our lives we will usually be called upon to give presentations and it is important that you do your best to remain calm and sound confident in front of your audience and peers. - 32513
