How to Prevent Public Speaking Anxiety Using the Power of Visualization

Anxious about an upcoming speech that you have to give? Don't worry, you're not alone. Although more people fear giving a speech in front of others than death, it is possible to learn how to prevent public speaking anxiety.

One powerful technique to use to prevent public speaking anxiety is to visualize. Everyone visualizes before they give a speech, but chances are you are doing it incorrectly. Take a moment and think about the day when you will be giving your speech. What thoughts pop into your head? Take a moment to think them over and write them down. Do any of your thoughts sound like this? "What if I make a mistake?" "What if I drop my notecards?" "What if no one laughs at my joke?" "What if people look bored?" "What if...?" "What if..." "What if...?"

Every time you think of the future and you experience a "what if" moment, you are training your body to feel more nervous and your anxiety increases. You are conditioning yourself to do poorly. This ability has helped our ancestors in the past. Feelings of anxiety and the flee or fight preparation that our body utilizes are great when real danger is present. So be grateful that your body has the ability to warn you with anxiety, but know that it no longer serves its purpose. You need to let it go.

You will need to train yourself to think in a different matter. It will take time, but do not give up. Every time you have a negative "what if" moment, say "stop it." Interrupt the negative thought. Take control of it. Sing a song, do a silly dance, or talk to a friend. Recognize the thought for what it is and do not let it affect you. If you like, you can let the thought run on and assert your control by taking it to a ridiculous ending.

For example, you might be wondering, "What if I lose my place?". So take a few moments to imagine what would happen if you lose your place. "After I lose my place, I'll never be able to find it again because my notecards will vanish. Then half the audience will laugh at me and the other half of the audience will walk out in disgust. My friends will stop speaking to me, my family will disown me, and they'll be talking about it five years from now." You've probably known a speaker who has lost their place before. Did anything terrible happen? If not, then you know that your fear is misplaced. By recognizing your fear as baseless, it will no longer have as much control over you.

Now that you have stopped the negative visualization, it is time to use the power of visualization to your advantage. Visualizing is not hard. Imagine yourself going through your speech. Be sure to carry your thoughts through to the end. While you are imagining yourself giving the speech of a lifetime, be sure to have the right feelings as well as the right thoughts. Smile while you visualize. Feel how good it is to give a successful speech. Be happy.

Here's another visualization secret. You don't have to imagine yourself as the best public speaker in the world for visualization to work for you. Instead, you need to make it believable for yourself. If you don't believe it is possible, your visualization won't be as effective. The negative thoughts that you worked so hard to banish are still there saying "this isn't possible." So, if you don't believe that the audience will give you a standing ovation, don't visualize it. Instead, visualize yourself feeling calm and confident and giving the audience the information they desire. Your audience is there because they want to hear what you have to say. They are not hostile. It is not unreasonable to believe that you can and will give a speech your audience is interested in, so focus on that.

Visualization may not cure you of your pre-speech jitters by 100%, but if you use it correctly you will find that you are happier and more confident and as a result your speeches will be successful.