5 Tips and Tricks to Conquer Your Anxiety About Public Speaking

Public speaking is one of the most daunting things to do, no matter what age you are. There's an entire crowd of people staring at you. You have to impress them! You have to do the perfect job! Oh, God, now your hands are sweating. You're stumbling over that one sentence. Everyone notices. They're going to mock you, and you'll never work again.

That's pretty much everyone's thought process when they have to do a presentation at work and school—but let's reel it in. That anxiety is almost never the reality of the situation, and public speaking can be fun and even make you feel powerful once you master the skill.

Below, discover five tips and tricks to conquer your fear of being front and center.

Acknowledge That Everyone Wants You to Do Well

One issue we often experience while public speaking is a fear of failure. It sounds bad, but we have nightmares of the crowd erupting in laughter as we speak. Then, we think about the reality of the situation. No one in the audience wants you to perform poorly. In fact, it's also uncomfortable for them to watch you be uncomfortable. However, when you think of the viewers as your cheerleaders, you feel more confident during your speech.

 

Bring Note Cards

Another common stressor people may face is forgetting the information. If you have a weak spot in your presentation or simply desire backup, don't feel afraid to bring note cards. More often than not, it's totally okay and can ensure you hit all the necessary points. Plus, we always feel better with something to hold.

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Think About the Material, Not the Audience

Do not focus too deeply on the audience. You will begin to spiral when you think about everyone's eyes and wonder what potential judgment is crossing their mind. Honestly, they probably don't have anything negative to say about you, but if it's hard to shake that feeling, turn you attention towards your material. Your brain already is in laser-focus mode, so you can use it for something productive.

 

Practice Makes Perfect

Although we suggest bringing note cards as a backup, there is nothing more beneficial you can do than preparing well. There will be even less stress about blanking and sounding uncertain about your word choice (ultimately leading to stuttering). You can practice by yourself or with friends to get the feel of someone listening to you.

(via Shutterstock)

 

Take a Class

A public speaking class could be a worthwhile investment, especially if your job requires a lot of it. Classes create a low-stakes, supportive environment. More than likely, most people will struggle with similar anxieties, so everyone will be rooting even harder. After repetition, you will truly get used to the sensation of having eyes on you.

 

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