Fear of public speaking is common, and it eases with good preparation, practice out loud and a gradual move from small situations to bigger ones. Prepare one clear message, rehearse it in front of a person or a camera, and start with small groups.
Step by step
- 1
One message
Write in one sentence what you want people to remember, and build the talk around it in three points at most.
- 2
Practice out loud
Run through the whole talk several times, and record yourself on video to see what the audience will see.
- 3
Memorize only the opening
The first minute is the hardest, so learn it well, and speak the rest from written points rather than a full script.
- 4
Build up the audience
Start with a question in a meeting, then a short presentation to your team, then a presentation to a larger audience.
- 5
Calm your body
Breathe slowly before you start, look at friendly faces in the room, and pause for a moment instead of filling silence with extra words.
- 6
Review after each time
Ask someone you trust for one thing you did well and one thing to improve.
Waiting for the fear to go away before you speak makes it grow, because confidence comes after repeated experience, not before it. If the anxiety is severe and disrupts your life, consult a specialist.
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