One of the most important skills that any business professional can have is public speaking, but the fear of public speaking is a common issue for many people. This skill, whether as a manager, executive, or business owner can advance your career. And if the prospect of getting up and speaking in front of an audience makes you nervous, don’t worry — you’re not alone. So here are seven tried-and-true approaches to overcoming your fear and becoming a confident speaker.

Process Your Fear of Public Speaking

You can’t vanquish your fear until you understand it. Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, is often caused by the fear of judgement and fear of making mistakes. The first step in overcoming this anxiety is going to be realizing that this anxiety is common, and there are ways to work around it.

Action Step:

• Recognize which specific triggers tend to make you anxious.

• Shift their perspective to view public speaking as a possibility rather than a danger.

Train and Prepare Yourself Well

Preparation is one of the most effective ways to reduce anxiety. The better you know your material, the more confident you’ll feel. Great speakers are not just born, they practice their craft tirelessly.

Action Step:

• Plan out what you will say and practice it a few times.

• Record yourself speaking and evaluate the playback for your delivery and body language.

Enroll in a Public Speaking Workshop

However, you can also sign up to attend a public speaking workshop where you can gain experience in a supervised manner. They provide structured guidance, access to instructors, and a chance to practice live in front of an audience.

Action Step:

• Look up local or virtual speaking workshops to boost your skills.

• You may also participate in events like Toastmasters or leadership seminars to build your confidence;

Use Deep Breathing Techniques

Fear elicits a physiological response — tremoring hands, racing heart, insufficient breath. Breathing as deeply as you are able assists in managing these symptoms and settles your nervous system.

Action Step:

• (Which, for some effect, try the 4-7-8 breathing technique: breathe in for four seconds, hold it for seven, breathe out for eight.)

• Before you get on stage, take a few deep breaths to ground yourself.

Visualize a Successful Speech

The elite performers use visualization for success. And just like that, by imagining a confident, interesting speech in your mind, you prepare your mind to be able to deal with the real-life situations to come.

Action Step:

• If you need to take a moment to close your eyes and visualize yourself confidently in the conversation.

• Imagine the audience responding positively to your speech.

Engage with Your Audience

Worry leads to fear of public speaking – Fear of disconnecting from the audience Interaction with them makes your presentation more vibrant and fun.

Action Step:

• As a reader, the things that entice you to read something are usually a question or something relatable.

• Keep eye to eye contact and make gestures to have a conversational tone.

Seek Constructive Feedback

Public speaking is an art that can be mastered, but it takes time and practice. Feedback from a competent speaker or coach can help speed up your growth.

Action Step:

• Tape your speeches and critique them for areas of improvement.

• Partner with a mentor or take a course in public speaking for professional IT in speaking.

Final Thoughts

Under your fear of public speaking lurks a path to confidence, but it takes strategies to get through. With preparation, practice, and connection with your audience, you can become an engaging and impactful speaker. If you’re really committed to honing your skills, consider signing up for a public speaking workshop to sharpen your skills.

Do you have what it takes to face your fear? Evaluate and implement these techniques today, and watch your public speaking go through the roof!

Ref: https://theomnibuzz.com/overcome-your-fear-of-public-speaking--proven-strategies-for-success