Psychology Today posted study results about what people specifically fear in public speaking. I'll take them one at a time.....
Showing signs of anxiety: Take a close look at Colin Powell on stage. He wrings his hands a lot. He is one the most engaging speakers today and he's naturally nervous. BUT - he has something to say - and that's what's important here. People are not really judging anxiety until it cripples. Big signs of anxiety, such a perspiring and wiping your forehead and stammering are overcome with, you guessed it, practice. Accumulating confidence is the only real answer to anxiety, to becoming comfortable. Accumulate stage time, regularly and often.
Going blank: This will happen if what? If you don't practice, if you don't recognize that your material is not fully memorized and do something about it like carry some reminder cards, if you are faced with a heckler, if the building catches fire while you are speaking, or you generally fear the crowd themselves. Blank happens. If it does, be patient with yourself, and open with the audience. The audience will forgive you collecting your thoughts. Make a joke of it, and just be human. You'll move on feeling better by not dwelling on that moment. Recover and focus, and the audience will too.
Doing something embarrassing: This covers tripping over a chair leg, a mic cable, dropping papers, and goes as far as not following official protocol. For the physical stuff, slow it down and move deliberately. For procedures - ask beforehand. Maybe you shouldn't bow to the king, or hug the queen. In another vein, I blush easily, therefore I avoid topics and situations which will cause that blood rush of embarrassment. Topics and moments that are very personal can cause the brain to go where it should not be while on stage. This is simply a matter of thought control, and when needed, redirection. Stick with topics that are comfortable- for you.
Being unable to continue talking: This is about the plan to talk. Can you take questions or interruptions and politely return to your message? Do you understand your purpose, your plan and your content? Does your content flow well enough to keep you on task? Organized thoughts are the basis of good speaking. A centralized thought and a core message will carry your talk forward.
Saying foolish things or not making sense: Oddly put, this seems logical. This issue is about controlling the flow of ideas, words and thoughts. If you can't string together thoughts into sentences into meanings and into your message, well, yeh, get off the stage, please. If doctors "practice" medicine, we could surely refer to speaking in the same way, with a lot less liability. When you have readied your thoughts, put them onto the page and onto those handy speakers pocket cards, then you've started to eliminate the non-sense. From there, find every stage you can, create them if you need to, but begin training your speaking mind to stick to the verbal boundaries you set for yourself.
My central theme here?...PLANNING, ORGANIZING, PRACTICE, and don't be so hard on yourself. Just follow the rules of the road, and, study great speakers more than you study great fears.
That is great advice. I wish that I had read it before I did my first Toastmaster speech. It would have helped me a lot. I enjoyed reading your articles.
Posted by: Ken Knittel | May 11, 2009 at 03:05 AM