I`m going to go out on a limb here and say that most – if not all people – have been there before. You know the feeling? You`re in a room full of people listening to a conversation. You enjoy it until…someone looks at you and asks for YOUR opinion. Suddenly, you feel yourself go numb. Your heart starts pounding, your mouth goes dry and everything you gathered from the conversation escapes you as your thoughts abandon you and leave your mind blank. It`s a terrible feeling. That feeling is known as public speaking anxiety.
What is Public Speaking Anxiety?
Simply put, Public Speaking Anxiety is the fear you get when called upon to speak in front of a group of people. Whether it be at a meeting at work or at a social gathering, it is the feeling of fear and distress you experience right before speaking. The very thought of speaking in front of people makes you quiver. The intensity of the anxiety differs from person to person.
What can I do about it?
The good news is that there are many things you can do to manage it. You are not alone. In fact, it is one of the most common fears in the world. The fact that you are reading this article means that you are searching for ways to manage it. I will try my best to help you. I`ve been on a long journey with public speaking anxiety and some of the advice below is from personal experiences that I hope will help you too.
Here are Five tips for managing Public Speaking anxiety
1. Join a Toastmasters Club
I know that this sounds biased, but I guarantee that it`s my number one recommendation for managing public speaking anxiety. Why? Because it’s a safe space and it guides you slowly through different levels and types of Public Speaking. It promotes a culture of positivity and encouragement. Plus, it`s practical and clubs are very supportive. It`s a place where you feel comfortable to make mistakes and learn from it as you grow. It also allows you to visit a club as a guest to see whether you like it before signing up as a member. It`s much more affordable than most public speaking courses. If you`re based in Cape Town, I highly recommend City Bowl Toastmasters Club.
2. Practice in front of small groups that cheer for you
If there`s one thing I`ve learned from managing Public Speaking anxiety is that the more you speak in public, the more comfortable you become with it. Easier said than done right? Be easy on yourself. Start small and build your way from there. If a big group is too overwhelming, start with one or two people. It has to be people that will cheer for you because the positive feedback can do wonders for your confidence. I remember one time I was asked to deliver a presentation. It gave me sleepless nights. I decided to first practice my speech in front of my niece and nephew a few times, then in front of a few more family members and friends before I did my presentation. I was still anxious, but the practice helped me develop my trail of thought while speaking.
3. Research and understand the topic you`re speaking on
If you`re going to a place where you will most likely be asked to speak in front of a group of people, it`s best to research and understand the topic you`re going to be speaking on. Why? Because it gives you something to fall back on. Just memorising a talk might get you through the moment of speaking, but researching and understanding will help you with those follow-up questions, whether it be an informal or formal talk. Human beings are curious beings and if you are going to be put on the spot to speak, most likely you will enquire people who are interested and want to know more. It also boosts your confidence when you are sure of what you are speaking about.
4. Find natural ways to calm yourself physically
A bit of advice that I come across a lot is when people say that you need to let your personality shine through. While some of the best public speakers do this as they are speaking, it is often only once they`ve reached a level of confidence in front of their audience that it comes naturally to them to connect on that level. However, if you`re still battling with public speaking anxiety to the extent that you dread it, this is incredibly difficult. The feeling of public speaking anxiety is accompanied by physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, dryness of the mouth and shaking. There are many natural ways to help you instill some sense of calmness and centre yourself for your personality to shine through as you speak. Recommendations include moderate exercise and meditating in order to release those endorphins (feel good hormones). The ways to calm you can vary from person to person, for instance, herbal tea might work for some while music works for others…or even a combination of the two. Basically, anything that helps to calm you will help you manage your anxiety.
5. Your thoughts matter!
The biggest critic you`ll have is your inner critic. While on your journey in conquering your fears and becoming a better speaker, learn to believe in yourself more, learn to be more kind and compassionate with yourself…because your voice matters. Your opinions matter. The more you practice speaking and share your thoughts with others, the easier it becomes.
Check out our Facebook page and drop us an email if you`re interested in joining us at City Bowl Toastmasters Club.
*Written by Zaghra Savahl (VPPR of City Bowl Toastmasters)
City Bowl Toastmasters 