Facing your fear of public speaking
Speaking in public can be the most nerve-wracking experience one can have, but for those of us aiming for leadership roles, it is an essential skill. While we know some basics about preparing ourselves for this task, i.e. knowing your content, practicing in front of a mirror, rehearsing with a friend, etc., how could we calm our anxieties and fears?
We asked Vina Vicente Vidal, an expert on business communication, for some some tips and things to remember that will allow us to get into a proper mindset, which would ensure that this public experience is a pleasant one.
1. Mistakes make you human.
You wrote your own speech. You practiced day and night. You know your material inside and out. This does not mean that you have already ensured perfection. Recognize that, even after hours and hours of rehearsal, you might—just might—stumble on a word, or forget the exact sequence of a sentence.
If you expect perfection from yourself, then you will be trapped in that fear of making a mistake. Free yourself by saying, “Mistakes make me human. If I do make one, I will recover quickly and use it to engage my audience.” Remember that the more human you are, the more accepting your audience will be, because then you become more like them.
Prepare for that .0001 percent chance that you might forget what you’re going to say next. This way, you really absorb the material and can deliver your message in various ways, not just one.
2. You have an audience of people, not monsters.
Part of the horror of speaking in public is imagining what the audience is thinking of you. You can already see it in your mind: these people seated in front of you with horns on their heads, ready to throw tomatoes on yours. It’s exactly that: your own imagination!
Your audience is simply a bunch of people who came to your talk because, one way or another, they have an interest in the topic, as well as in what you have to say.
Think of public speaking as a big conversation, an opportunity to engage many people at once to share your thoughts in something that you are passionate about.
3. Think: This is going to be so much fun!
“I’m really not made to do this type of thing.” “I’m not ready to speak in public. It’s not in my nature.” “I can’t do it.”
If you start off with these thoughts, then you’ve pretty much already set yourself up for failure. You enter this project with a heavy heart, a trapped mind, and an all-around negative bubble. If this is the case, who would be surprised if your words fail and the entire experience is a disaster?
Decide to be excited at the prospect of speaking in public right at the beginning. Look forward to what you will say and your words will come out. Be thrilled with the idea of talking to a lot of people and you will have an enjoyable time rehearsing. Have fun with the activity. It’s the best way to get through it.
Vicente will facilitate a workshop titled “Speaking with Confidence: Overcoming Anxiety in Public Speaking” on June 14, 2019, at the Inquirer Academy.
The Inquirer Academy is at 4168 Don Chino Roces Ave. corner Ponte St., Makati City. For more information about the workshop or if you would like to add your input on the article, you may email [email protected], call (632) 834-1557 or 771-2715 and look for Jerald Miguel or Karl Paz.
