Does the thought of public speaking make you panic? You’re not alone.
More than 70 percent of the population is affected by what scientists call glossophobia – the fear of public speaking. Glossophobia is a commonly known social anxiety disorder that ranges in severity. Whether you suffer greatly and go to great lengths to avoid group presentations, or you merely get butterflies before taking the stage, a fear of public speaking has been shown to significantly impact the way you deliver a message.
Being in the spotlight isn’t what triggers anxiety, but rather a deep-seated concern for how we will be perceived once we take center stage. None of us wants to look nervous and unsure when stepping in front of an audience. If we do, we know the audience will question whether we truly understand our topic and are credible enough to speak on the matter.
We all want to be able to inspire an audience to willingly act upon what we have to say. The ability to influence others doesn’t start and stop in a high-stakes conversation, but instead requires the discipline of using consistent communication skills.
If you want to exude confidence and credibility when stepping into a public-speaking situation, you must change your approach. Begin by working on your daily communication skills in every interaction and every medium. Here are two powerful steps to do just that.
Public-speaking situations are no different than your daily interactions. They are extensions of the conversations you have every day. When you take the stage, everyone wants to see you succeed. They want to see the same person they see day in and day out. They don’t sit in the audience to judge your mistakes; they sit and listen because they want to learn from what you have to say.
Instead of believing the presentation is about you, remember it is about your audience and what they want to gain from listening to you. The next time you’re preparing for a presentation, consider these ideas:
Think back to when you were in school. There always seemed to be two types of students. The first type attended class routinely, took prudent notes and reviewed the information frequently, and seemed cool and calm on test day. They made good grades and didn’t lose sleep over how prepared they were for a high-stakes situation. The other type of student had inconsistent attendance, note taking and reading. They were often found cramming the night before an exam, showing up exhausted and frazzled about whether they’d even pass.
This same scenario holds true for public speaking. If you only practice your communication skills at the last minute, you’re setting yourself up for chaos. If you practice strong, consistent communication skills each day, in each conversational scenario, you’ll develop habits that become second nature. You’ll rely on these habits when speaking in front of others.
To practice communication skills that will strengthen your influence as much onstage as off, consider these tips:
Before your next presentation, make it about your audience. Ensure you meet their needs and use their time wisely. Prepare and practice your communication skills daily so that when you step into the spotlight, you provide your message in a manner that is consistent with your communication style. When you recognize that a presentation is nothing more than you in the day-to-day, delivering information to meet others’ needs, you’ll be able to deliver with impact and influence.