***Why Not Address Your Fears of Public Speaking Instead of Being Consumed by Them

Yes, man’s greatest fear is public speaking. The statistics tell us so. Instead of being part of those statistics, however, why not address those fears and learn how to put your nervousness to good use? Of course your first response is to question how that is possible. How do you take your nervousness and let it work for you and not against you?

The first thing you need to understand is that nervousness is a good thing. Many people are under the mistaken belief that they need to eliminate it – get rid of it. Instead, why not take your nervousness and allow it to heighten your senses, make you more alert and give you an edge? This is indeed what that rush of adrenaline does in the flight or fight mode. On stage or at the head of the boardroom table, those characteristics can make your delivery that much better.

The problem for most people is that they allow their nervousness to remain in control. If, on the other hand, you can make use of the marvelous benefits nervousness has to offer, your passion and your enthusiasm will take your delivery to heights unknown.

To gain this wonderful control, however, there are 5 things you must do:

1. Know your material both inside and out. That does not mean memorizing or reading your presentation. It means speaking it by…
2. Talking to your audience just as if you were having a conversation in your living room…
3. Making eye contact with those who have gone out of their way to listen to you…
4. Breathing as you speak and not waiting until you have totally run out of air…
5. Believing in yourself. (If you think you cannot do it, how successful do you think you will be?)

All 5 components are invaluable in dynamic public speaking and extremely important for gaining control over your nervousness, allowing it to work for you and not against you. And one of best ways to ensure success is to practice your delivery out loud. Incidentally, reading it over in your mind is not practicing. You need to say it out loud over and over, recording yourself in the process. What you will learn from that exercise is invaluable.

Instead of allowing your fear to consume you, why not address your nervousness the next time you are scheduled to speak and discover just how great that rush of adrenaline really is!