Faced with the prospect of stepping in front of other people to speak, a lot of folks will begin to dwell on dark thoughts.
They think they’re going to screw up.
They expect their minds to go blank.
They’re sure the audience will laugh at them or walk out or otherwise humiliate them.
These are honest, natural, human fears. I will not dismiss them or discount them. Even after 30 years of stepping before audiences and live TV cameras, I still have episodes of shaky knees, pounding heart and cotton mouth.
But these fears do not have to get in the way of a good performance. You can deal with them.
How have I dealt with my own anxiety?
I remind myself of why I am there: I have a job to do. The audience is looking to me to deliver information, make a case, emcee a program, advocate a cause, defend a principle, introduce a colleague. I have a responsibility to them and to their time. My focus must be on my task rather than my fear.
I tell myself that just like a pro athlete before a match, or a surgeon before an operation, or firefighter about to enter a burning building, I have a purpose. I know what I am here to do.
Then I begin doing it.
Your audience wants you to succeed. Don’t let them be a source of pressure. Concentrate your energies on doing a great job — whether you’re making a report to a staff meeting, summarizing a project for your client, or making your case to a community group.
The audience only gets what you give them. They don’t know how nervous you are. They don’t know what your script is. They don’t know what you’ll say next. They don’t know what else is racing through your mind.
You are in control.
Will you make mistakes? Of course.
Will there be flashes of panic? Yes.
Will you forget details? Most likely.
Give yourself permission to make mistakes, to be anxious. Then carry on. Just don’t make yourself a liability for your message. It’s too important for that.
If your speaking skills are weak, your audience will sense it enough without you having to make a big deal about it.
Remember, it’s not about you. It’s your message the audience is interested in. Just get it across as best you can, as convincingly as you can, and everyone will be satisfied.
My biggest fear is the speaking in front of a public and I wasn't able to overcome it during my whole life and speaking frankly I don't want to because I don't want to speak in front of huge crowd of people.
Posted by: Cara Fletcher | August 08, 2007 at 08:06 AM