How to Overcome Public Speaking Fear or Phobia

Learning to overcome a fear or phobia of public speaking is important for your career. Take the time to utilize these tips and tricks to get past your fear of become an effective public speaker!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fear or phobia of public speaking
• Willingness to take a chance

1. The first step to overcoming a fear of public speaking is to know what you are talking about. This involves learning your speech through and through. Notice that I did not say memorizing your speech through and through. If you attempt to memorize every word you are more likely to freeze up as there are more things to remember.

2. Instead of memorizing every word of your speech, instead try to remember a general outline of your speech. Visualize each paragraph of your speech as an outline with several points underneath it. You should also have a print out or note cards of such an outline and it should look something like this:
   
   General welcome
   - Story about first coming to campus
   - Thank students/faculty for attending
   - Goal of today is deciding budget
   
   Based on these general talking points, you can generate sentences that will vary each time you practice/deliver your speech but will have the same effect. Overcoming a fear of public speaking is all about KNOWING your speech, not memorizing it.

3. Next, continue to rehearse your speech and then rehearse some more, using the outline. If you make a mistake while rehearsing, don't start over. Imagine you are actually delivering your speech and try to overcome or correct the mistake.

4. Now after rehearsing on your own to the point that you feel confident in the speech, deliver it in front of another person. Public speaking in front of even one person is a world of difference compared to doing it in the shower.

5. Throughout all of this, if possible, do a run of your speech at the actual forum or location where you will deliver it. If it's at a school or wedding reception, it probably won't be difficult to gain access a day before or even the day of before everyone arrives. This will help to eliminate any fear of not knowing what the venue for your public speaking is going to be.

6. Mow imagine everyone in their underwear. Weird isn't it? Now put their clothes back on, I never found this to be helpful.

7. Finally, be confident in yourself. What's the worst that can happen? So you flub a line or two, you have your note cards or outline in front of you to get you on track. Make a small joke about a mispronunciation and move on. The audience wants you to do well and will not be critical of small mistakes.
   
   Fear of public speaking is all in your mind. Overcoming it is just a matter of preparation and confidence.

Tips & Warnings

• Stay hydrated and well fed the day of the speech. You don't want to get light headed.
• When you start speaking, stay calm and speak slower than you think you need to. People tend to speak too fast in public.
• Try to avoid nervous habits like tapping toes or leaning back and forth while speaking
• DO NOT try to memorize your speech line by line. This is one of the largest mistakes of public speaking.

[soanyway]

on 6/27/2009 Very good article, lots of great tips! I'm so glad I never have to speak to a large public, although with training I would be great! LOL I have reocmn'd you. Pay it forward to all! ;-)

[mjporto22]

on 6/26/2009 Have you ever made a speech at a wedding?