Just Relax: This Speech Won't Hurt !

                                                                                         

Your hands sweat, voice crackles, shortness of breath and the shakes. Have you ever experienced any of these symptoms? They’re sure signs of speech anxiety. Some of us would rather have a root canal at the dentist than give a presentation. Admit it! At some point you’ve been nervous about giving a presentation. Being nervous is normal because you want to do a great job. Guess what: you are not alone. Millions of people battle speech anxiety everyday in their professional lives. Many of us set up roadblocks, becoming our own worst critics, judging ourselves mercilessly. The result? We create speech anxiety, where the anticipation is often worse than the reality.

What causes speech anxiety? It’s simple. We all want to be both liked and respected. However, to beat it, you need to strive to be your true self, instead of worrying about being liked or respected.

There are 7 Steps to successfully overcoming speech anxiety. Remember, your audience cannot see inside of you. They have no idea that you are experiencing speech anxiety, also known as nervousness. The following steps will put you into a “No Fear Zone.”

1. Know you audience and purpose- The more you know about your audience, the more confidence you will have for the success of your speech. Provide two-way dialogue and interactivity with your audience. Remember that you are the expert, and they hired you to share your knowledge. Use audience participation whenever possible . Break the audience into small groups and have them discuss key issues, then invite them to share their observations. This technique helps build a connection with your audience.
2. Research your topic- Select an appropriate topic with which you’re comfortable. The more familiar you are with the topic and material, the easier the words will flow, becoming effortless, and allowing the audience to embrace you. Researching the topic will automatically boost your confidence.
3. Organize your ideas and information- Mentally visualize your success. Visualization is an excellent way of overcoming speech anxiety. Prepare yourself for success by rehearsing again and again until you are confident with the material.
4. Content and structure- Know your presentation backwards, forwards, and sideways. Speaking from notes or an outline in which you’ve stressed the main points of your presentation is very effective. Audiences value presentations that are clear and concise.
5. Technology- Practice using your supporting visuals such as PowerPoint. Have a strong comfort level with all of the technology that you will be using in your presentation. Visit the location in advance to get a “feel” for your surroundings before you take center stage.
6. Practice , Practice and Practice- Rehearse your presentation out loud again and again until you are so confident with the material that you can handle any question. When you hear yourself out loud, you can locate areas that need corrections, and you can make them before the “big day.” Preparation is the best, time-tested method for overcoming speech anxiety. Videotaping and audio taping your rehearsals helps put the polishing touches on your presentation.
7. Delivery- Deliver with a positive mental attitude. Present your information with a smile, happiness and excitement.


It’s time for center stage. Implement the 7 Steps to overcoming speech anxiety and your success is guaranteed. Just relax and take a series of deep breaths by breathing in slowly through the nose, then slowly exhale through slightly pursed lips. Start visualizing yourself walking confidently in front of the audience, delivering a dramatic and compelling introduction.

The audience is waiting for you to speak with purpose and confidence.

About the author:
Robert Moment is an innovative business strategist and author of ,”It Only Takes a Moment to Score” and upcoming book “Invisible Profits: The Power of Exceptional Customer Service published in the Fall. Robert show entrepreneurs how to successfully build and grow profitable service-based small businesses. Visit http://www.howtostartyoursmallbusiness.com and download the FREE Special Report “17 Profitable Ways to Turn Your Ideas into Wealth”.




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