Overcoming Anxiety - Self Empowerment Through Managing Fear of Public Speaking
The story of a struggling expert
I’ll never forget the conversation I had with my friend the night before one of her big business presentations. She was a stellar employee and a genuine expert in her field. Her track record for completing projects ahead of time was exemplary - she truly was the ‘ideal’ employee.
Unfortunately there was one area that she consistently struggled with - presenting! Every week she had to present in front of her team, and sometimes to executives and shareholders. She read up on and followed many top tips to present successfully. She knew her topic inside out, organized her information, and practiced consistently. However every time she presented, she felt an overwhelming tightness in her chest, became short of breath, noticed her voice quivering, and could not control her pacing. She often spoke too quickly and stumbled over her words. Sometimes she felt as if she “blanked out” entirely. She consistently feared missing an important point. This was an unfortunate setback in her career, and she felt as if the full value of her ideas was never appreciated. She knew what she wanted to convey - but couldn’t get her point across.
You are not alone
It is estimated that upwards of 70% of individuals are affected by some form of public speaking anxiety. As well, psychological studies from John Hopkins University have noted that the shift from in-person to virtual communication throughout the pandemic, has heightened the fear of public speaking for many. The symptoms that my friend felt are common, and are part of the adrenaline rush that one can get when experiencing anxiety. Despite no tangible physical threat, we may often feel that our voices and speech patterns are out of control when presenting.
Recognizing anxiety
So how do you overcome public speaking anxiety? How can you demonstrate your best self when speaking?
The first step and often the hardest one is recognizing the signs of social or public speaking anxiety in yourself, and accepting its presence.
Know these feelings all too well? Public speaking anxiety can manifest itself in many forms.
Overcoming fear
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. ”
You’ve read all the top tips and practiced your speech countless times - so why aren’t you performing flawlessly?
Part of exceptional performance is accepting that you will make mistakes, and that’s ok! Handling them with confidence, especially in the context of accent modification Toronto, is what counts.
3 tips to overcome fear of public speaking
1. Pause
Pausing can provide time to let your audience reflect on your message. A pause can feel intimidating, accent modification Toronto but it can have a strong impact in demonstrating confidence.
2. Don’t fear forgetting points
Oh no! - you blanked out earlier and just remembered an important point you didn’t mention. Instead of getting flustered, this can be an opportunity to highlight the point. Try to connect this point with the topic you are currently discussing to make a seamless transition back to it.
3. Use notes
You don’t have to memorize your entire presentation! Don’t read it word for word – but use notes to glance at when necessary. Write down main topics and bulleted points to keep you on track throughout the entire duration of your speech.
Empowerment by overcoming social and public speaking anxiety
Overcoming speaking anxiety can be challenging. Finding a speech therapist to help you cope with and overcome anxiety when speaking can empower you to excel in career presentations.
At SpeechScience, we examine each situation on an individual basis and create a tailored framework to improve, based on your specific needs.
Are you ready to eliminate speech anxiety and feel “heard”?
Contact us today and let’s discuss how we can help you reach your speaking potential.
💻 https://speechscience.com 📧 bonnie@speechscience.com 📱 (416)323-3881
