Conquering the Greatest Fear - Public Speaking

Ask ten or twenty or one hundred people to identify their greatest fears and ninety percent of them are likely to indicate that it is public speaking. We all have our quirky avoidance of bugs, rodents or thirteens, but this is the one that many surveys I have seen along the way have identified as the worst.

Although organizations such as Toastmasters have been dedicated to overcoming this avoidance, a number of suggestions may be in order without needing to belong to or practice the art of public speaking in front of an audience. Unfortunately, we have often equated the love of microphones with sleazy sales pitches or charlatans. But perhaps there are those contexts where being comfortable with a microphone doesn't require you to peddle widgets.

There is no magic to being comfortable speaking to a group of people, large or small. I would identify these in three major categories, the first of which is to know your material. One of the prerequisites for self-confidence is a solid understanding of the subject that you are discussing. It should come as no surprise that impromptu speaking requires a great deal of practice so avoid that until you're ready. In the interim, know the content that you are delivering well enough that you can present it in any context. With this done, the rest of the process becomes much less traumatic.

Secondly, understand that the audience wants to accept and admire you. We sometimes view the people in front of us as a hostile lynch mob but this is simply not true. With the exception of the rare but dreaded heckler (more likely at a political rally than a PTA meeting), the people whom you are addressing want to like you and listen to what you're saying. The better you know what you're doing, the easier it is for that to occur. And the more you view them as interested and receptive, the more relaxed and understandable your presentation will be.

Finally, don't lose track of who you are. You don't magically evolve into a different being when you address a body of people. If you're funny, be funny. If you're charming, be charming. If you're highly analytical and somewhat aloof, go that way as well, but don't load your speech with so many (boring) details that you'll be speaking to the tonsils of your audience. Above all, don't attempt to be someone you're not. Most of the people in the crowd are human and will be able to detect a phony in a heartbeat.

Along these lines, as much as feasible, relax. Remember that you know your material, the audience is focused and receptive and you have the ability to do what you're doing in your very own style. Many people like and accept you for exactly who you are and the people before you are no different. Take a deep breath, begin your speech with a smile (and if possible, a humorous ice-breaker) and do what you know. With a little practice and confidence increasing with each presentation, you'll be a veteran speaker in a short time.