Public speaking is seen as one of the top fears for humans. Standing in front of an audience, small or big, whether it is presenting to your team or whatever the situation is, can send waves of anxiety to your body. Luckily, it’s a skill you can develop with the right tools to overcome the fear of public speaking.
The beauty is that you can learn to speak in public with increased comfort. It needs practicing and some mind hacks to master.
Let’s face it: we must present ourselves in interviews when pitching an idea or simply having lots to share. Once you unlock this, you will open doors to many opportunities and spark more ideas and personal growth.
5 Public Speaking Hacks That Actually Work
Public speaking is a significant skill for advancing in your professional life and building impactful partnerships, relationships, and networking.
It automatically increases your confidence and abilities, benefiting your overall business success.
So here are five hacks that I picked that might be useful for you to master the fear of public speaking:
1. Shift your focus from yourself to the message
One of the biggest hacks for mastering public speaking is to shift your attention to your speech and message rather than yourself. Easier said than done, I know. However, rather than overthinking what the audience will think of you, remember it is not about you but the message you want to convey. Reframe your mindset, focusing on your value, inspiration, action plan, and insights that you transmit.
You are there to serve and not to impress.
Before any public speaking engagement, remind yourself that it is not about you but what the audience needs to know and be aware of.
2. Practise and practise
How do you practice any presentation or speech that you need to give? Do you read it repeatedly? Many people do that and think they are prepared. But actual practice means standing up and speaking out loud. Even better, record yourself and listen with closed eyes to your speech. Hear your tonality. Then watch it without any sound and check out your body gestures. Afterward, you watch in totality and refine your speech.
Include friends, peers, and families to watch you, listen to you, and accept valuable feedback.
3. Master the first 60 seconds
Fear creeps in during the first seconds and when you stand on stage. This is when your brain is on alert, trying to protect you. It means flight, fight, or freeze—normal emotions and reactions.
This can lead to a shaky voice, shivering, and feeling like you are going faint.
Remind yourself of your first lines, which we usually remember very well. After the first sentences, you will see how your audience reacts, and your nerves will calm down.
A great start to your speech can be a question, compelling fact, or anything surprising.
3. Breath, pause and own silence
Fear of public speaking can lead us to speak fast and ramble, though confident speakers do pause. They look into the audience and gather their thoughts. Silence is power.
Pauses allow your audience to absorb the message and think; it is a perfect time to think about your following message. You don’t need to fill in the silence with any words. On the contrary.
Practice your speech with pauses, avoiding filler words. Have someone watch or record yourself.
4. Start Small
Public speaking is an exciting and massive undertaking, especially for humans who fear it.
The first step is to start small. You don’t need to put yourself on the big stage; you can begin by raising your hand for team presentations and presenting yourself with your elevator pitch at networking events, which are examples where you can practice. Each step is one step forward. Think of it like muscles you train.
Never forget to celebrate your successes, as this will automatically increase your confidence.
Toastmasters is a safe space for practicing public speaking. I have been a member of Toastmasters for a while. I see the benefit of listening to different speeches and peer evaluations and the opportunity to make mistakes, practice, and learn from each other.
Of course, you can choose any path that suits you and your circumstances.
My final 5 cents to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking
Fear of public speaking is normal and a reality, as is your ability to learn and overcome it. Facing your fears is the first step, followed by taking action to build confidence gradually. It will not come overnight. You need to train for it.
Remember, you are not alone either. You are growing, and growth only happens when you do the uncomfortable.
Choose one of the above hacks and start using it. Once you master one, continue with another.
Let me know how it goes, comment or reach out. In case, I am here to listen to you.
Enjoy and have fun.