Remember the time when you had to speak in front of an audience? You mustered all the courage in the world but at the very last moment when you laid your eyes on everyone, you just froze! Everything felt overwhelming. This is the moment where stress, anxiety, & nervousness take over. Speaking publicly doesn’t come naturally to all. Some are master public speakers from the get-go while many hone themselves to overcome this challenge.
Out of many reasons, stress is one of the most common factors that triggers the fear of public speaking. Whenever you feel underconfident and overwhelmed, you start to worry over the tiniest detail - Is my tone correct? Am I loud enough? Am I fluent enough? Will someone laugh at me? What are people thinking? These are just some of the many questions that you think and stress yourself out.
The solution for improving public speaking might not be instantaneous, but over time, with due diligence and practice, you too can handle the stress and master it. Explore a step-by-step guide below to handle stress and public speaking like a pro!
Own the topic
Research in-depth about the topic you’re going to speak on. The more familiar you are with the subject, the better your confidence will be to speak on the topic. So, do your bit to ensure that fear of public speaking is a thing of the past! Plan it out and break the entire subject into smaller segments. Then, all you need to remember is the crux of the structure, the rest will follow. The key to managing stress and public speaking is to be confident enough to own the topic and present it in your own words. Feel free to adapt and change the course slightly if you feel like it at the moment.
Talk to your audience (Not at them)
Do not talk at your audience, talk to them. Put yourself in their shoes and understand what you would like to hear if someone else were giving a speech. It doesn’t matter what you want to say. Don’t make the speech about you, make it about them. When you approach public speaking with this mindset, it will take a lot of pressure away from you. This is one of the crucial steps in managing your stress and public speaking.
Record, listen, & improve
Ideating & writing a speech and speaking it in front of an audience are 2 completely different things. Sometimes the content you write on a paper reads good but doesn’t sound that great. The way out? Once you’re done writing, pick up your phone or any audio-listening device and record yourself. Read the speech aloud as if you’re on the stage. Now, hear your recording and analyse. Listen to all the nuances, understand your voice range, gauge the clarity, and check whether you’re exuding confidence or not. Wherever you lag, improve on it. Keep doing this day in and day out. This process will not only build confidence but will also give you a real understanding of where you stand. Before you know it, you’ll be ready for the big day.
Ditch the perfectionism
Trying to perfect every little thing in your life will drive you insane. Yes, you heard it right. As humans, we are born with flaws. No one is perfect in this world. So, why put yourself under unnecessary pressure? Instead, focus on your strengths and keep working on your challenging areas. You will automatically come closer to a great public speech. However, if you try to micromanage your behaviour and aim to perfect yourself, you’ll never succeed. So, ditch the perfectionism! Be real, be smart, & be confident. Consider this as a crucial pointer in public speaking anxiety tips.
Relax & breathe in
Last minute anxiety coming to get you? Feeling stressed and working yourself up just before walking to the stage? Try relaxation exercises and practice yoga. Many fall prey to public speaking anxiety medicines that are not at all effective and cause harmful side effects. Using natural techniques to relax your mind is the sure shot way to experience long-term benefits. So, breathe in and breathe out your way to an amazing public speaking experience. Own the stage and put your best foot forward. Thus, making it easier to manage stress and public speaking.
Visualise yourself succeeding
We worry about negative emotions all day long - goofing up, freezing on stage, forgetting the speech midway, & many more. But, how about we take another route? Instead of focusing on potential setbacks, imagine yourself giving a perfect presentation end-to-end. Visualise yourself owning the stage, delivering your first line, and concluding with a bang. When you visualise, you’re building self-confidence. If you imagine yourself giving an amazing presentation with ease, you’ll believe that you can perform well - making you less nervous & more confident.
Have fun & own every word you speak
Just like nothing is set in stone in our lives, the same logic applies to your speeches too. Sure, you have to try and stick to the final script as much as possible. But, when you’re in the middle of a speech and you see your audience getting disinterested or if you’re starting to forget the lines, feel free to adapt and make on-the-spot changes. The changes shouldn’t be completely off the script but you can speak in your way. Own every word and choose to go along with the flow. It's better to adapt instead of going blank completely. The end goal is to entertain your audience and to keep them hooked at all times.
The dance between stress and public speaking is never-ending. But, with the right steps and efforts, you can tip the scales to your side and master the art of public speaking. To reduce stress and anxiety, you can go for three60 De-Stress & Chill gummies. They are made to help calm your mind and manage stress like a pro! So, take charge of your stage fright and deliver speeches that will make your audience feel your presence even after you leave.
