Is Your Fear of Public Speaking Real Or Imaginary?

Having recently read an article on the imaginary fear of public speaking, I beg to differ. Nervousness at the lectern is not imaginary. It is real. It is palpable. The question is whether you are willing to take control of that fear and allow it to work in your favor or whether you will allow your fear to remain in control?

Because public speaking is a live venue, you have every reason be exhibit trepidation, anxiety, stress, sweaty palms, nervous jitters, racing heart beat, nausea or whatever else afflicts you at the prospect of standing and speaking in front of an audience. These symptoms are real, not imaginary.

When you stand at that lectern and address your audience, you have no idea how your audience will respond to you. You don't know how you will sound; you don't know how well your delivery will flow. That, in a nutshell, is a reason for fear. (Admittedly speeches that are read are a bit easier to gauge in that respect than the presentation.)

While others may offer tips and tricks on eliminating, abolishing, and ending your nervousness, I have found that if you allow for your nervousness and embrace the adrenaline rush, you can use it to your advantage. The secret is learning how to harness that nervous energy.

When you deliver your speech or presentation, you will have only one chance to make a good impression. That is a frightening thought. But if you do your homework and know your material, you have just taken the first step in dealing with your fear.

Your next step is to practice your material over and over again until you are comfortable with your delivery skills. By recording yourself and studying the playback, you can honestly judge your strengths and weaknesses and work on improving that which you don't like about your delivery.

In recording yourself, however, practice delivering your speech or presentation just as if you were having a conversation in your living room. Good delivery skills, just like good conversational skills, involve making eye contact with your audience. It also means speaking with color, with life, and with emotion.

Throughout your practice and eventual delivery of your material, concentrate on your breathing. The last thing we think to do in public speaking is to breathe when, in fact, it should be the first thing we do.

If you discover the tremendous benefits of deep, supported breathing, known as diaphragmatic breathing, then breathlessness will not be a problem - your speed will be in control - and your pitch will not continue to rise with each and every word.

All great athletes, performers, musicians and even public speakers are nervous. In each case, their livelihood is dependent on how well they perform. If you think they are not nervous, then you are wrong. The difference between you and them, however, is that they allow their nervousness, their fear, or their trepidation to get them through their performance with success. They do not allow it to stop them...they make it work for them.

Your fear is not imaginary. It is a reality. Accept the reality, take control of the fear, and allow it to work for you, not against you!

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