Understanding And Managing Nervousness When It Comes To Public Speaking
- Aug 22, 2024
- 4 min read
Michelle Fragias is the CEO of Boss Lady Academy and Founder of the HERVOICE Speaking Circles and Speakers Club, a passionate advocate for Women Leaders and Business Owners to live authentically and speak their truth, believes that to effect positive change in the world it begins with more Women stepping into their leadership, speaking up, sharing their voice, their gifts, their stories, their ideas.
Speaking in public is like stepping onto a stage where your voice has the power to captivate hearts, inspire minds, and spark change. Whether you're a student sharing a project, a businesswoman owning the room, or a community leader igniting passions, mastering the art of public speaking is key.
But let's be real. Those pre-speech jitters can be a total buzzkill! Fear not, beautiful, for we're here to help you transform that speech anxiety into radiant public speaking confidence. It's time to unleash your inner orator and own that spotlight like the fabulous speaker you are!
Unveiling the roots of speech anxiety jitters
To conquer the fear of public speaking, you must first uncover the mysterious sources of your stage fright. Maybe it's the fear of judgment, the dread of blanking out, or the ghosts of past speaking mishaps haunting you. By understanding the origins of your anxiety, you're arming yourself to tackle it head-on and reclaim your speaking prowess!
Here are some Public Speaking Tips Ready for you to slay that stage fright, rock your speech and totally be the confident speaker.
Check out these fierce public speaking tips:
Prep like a pro
Knowledge is power. Spend time with your material until you know it as well as you know yourself. Embodying what you're speaking about becomes you.
Repetition and Practice is key when you do it over and over again your preparation pays off and leads to feeling natural when your speaking because its you.
See & hear yourself doing it
See and Hear yourself delivering the talk in a calm, clear, and confident tone. This visualization of Seeing and Hearing Yourself doing it can help you flip the script on your fears and turn them into your secret weapon.
Start small, dream big
Dip your toes in the public speaking pool by starting with a friendly audience like a group of friends or a few people before tackling the big stages. The Gradual exposure helps dilute those pesky nerves in public speaking and boosts your confidence one speech at a time.
Focus on your message, not yourself
Shift the spotlight from yourself to your message. Focus on the value you're delivering to your audience, what do you want for your audience to walk away with, when you make it about them and not about you watch your confidence soar like a queen!
Curious to conquer your fear of public speaking? And want some tools to navigate those nerves check out these confidence-boosting techniques:
Techniques can be used to level up your public speaking skills
1. Breathing exercises
Everyone can agree that easy-to-practice breathing exercises can help lessen fear in public speaking. Taking some time and deep breaths is advisable to get rid of the nervousness.
Try this one out ;) Inhale courage, exhale fear! Simple yet powerful: One Breath at a time can work wonders in calming your nerves before and during showtime.
2. Mindfulness and meditation
Mindfulness has the effect of anchoring in the present and can make the unknown while speaking less terrible. Ground yourself in the present moment. I know for some, meditation can be challenging during this time of elevated nerves but one thing I love to go to is Tapping on my Fingers. If you have never tried it, it is a game changer its like a secret weapon around managing nervousness and anxiety. If you want to experience Tapping on Fingers, I will show you how at the end of this blog.
3. Engage with the audience
Forging a bond with your audience by engaging with them not only creates a positive rapport but it also can calm the nerves. When you Ask questions, weave anecdotes, you will see the tension melt away, leaving only magic in its wake!
Wrapping up
Just a little reminder, beautiful: even the pros have danced with stage fright at some point and they still do at some point. Those butterflies in your tummy/heart pumping/sweat/dry mouth? the nerves come in all shapes and forms. It's Totally normal! Embrace them, for they can be your secret sauce, your superpower of motivation and inspiration when harnessed right. With each practice session and every moment in the spotlight, your public speaking prowess your public speaking confidence will blossom like a radiant flower.
So, the next time you're called to take the stage, ditch the pressure to impress and instead see it as a chance to conquer your fears, own the stage and express your ideas. Mastering the art of public speaking is a victory in itself, opening doors to a world of endless possibilities just waiting for you to seize them!
Ready to do more and to learn some techniques like Tapping on your Finger? Then come and join my next free Masterclass. Click here to join.
Read more from Michelle Fragias
Michelle Fragias, Public Speaking & Leadership Coach and Mentor
Michelle Fragias is the CEO of Boss Lady Academy and Founder of the HERVOICE Speaking Circles and Speakers Club, a passionate advocate for Women Leaders and Business Owners to live authentically and speak their truth, believes that to effect positive change in the world it begins with more Women stepping into their leadership, speaking up, sharing their voice, their gifts, their stories, their ideas. With a commitment to supporting women in various life and business stages and over two decades of experience in leadership and communication, Michelle blends her empathy, authenticity, and steadfast dedication to foster growth. Her mission is clear: Helping Women Live and Speak Their Truth to Impact Change in the Way of Being in the World.
