Posts tagged as:

fear of public speaking

Anxiety and public speaking: new research

December 10, 2009

The most effective longterm way to overcome public speaking anxiety is to use a proven method such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
But what if you’ve just had a bad public speaking experience which has caused your anxiety to rocket upwards? New research suggests that getting back in front of a group as soon as possible will [...]

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What makes a good public speaker

December 9, 2009

One of the defining qualities of a good public speaker is the willingness to make a fool of yourself. At the New Media Atlanta conference in 2009, Chris Brogan was the last keynote of the day. He’d watched all day as the backchannel drowned in snark. He could have chosen to play safe. Instead he [...]

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8 presentation tips to make your eye contact more powerful

December 2, 2009

Even a newbie at public speaking knows they should make eye contact.
But the term eye contact is rather vague. It can infer just making fleeting “contact” with a person then moving on. Don’t make eye contact – make “eye connection”. Eye connection means spending time with each person so that person feels like you’re [...]

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The truth about visualization for public speaking success

October 2, 2009

Many people think that this type of visualization can help you not only speak better but also help reduce your fear of public speaking.
It may make you feel good at the time, but the scientific evidence doesn’t support the belief that it will help you achieve your best performance or reduce your fear of public [...]

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How to survive watching yourself on video

August 26, 2009

Do you hate the idea of watching yourself on video? Most people do. But on our courses it’s one of our most powerful tools for helping people to reduce their fear of public speaking. Watching yourself give a presentation can give you a tremendous confidence boost.
That’s because the way that you come across is often [...]

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How to use your fear of public speaking to be a better speaker

August 2, 2009

It’s normal to get nervous about public speaking.
When you stand up in front of people and open your mouth, you’re making yourself vulnerable. Public speaking involves risk. So aiming for zero fear is unrealistic.
I still get nervous when I have to present in unfamiliar situations. I’m very used to presenting to small groups of people [...]

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What you need to know before your first presentation

July 9, 2009

Giving your first presentation or speech is daunting. I’ve worked with many new presenters and here’s the advice that has made the most difference to them.
1. Content is king
Your audience is there for what you are going to say. Not how you say it.
This is good news for you as a new speaker. That’s because [...]

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How to prevent and recover from mind blanks

May 7, 2009

Are you concerned that you might suffer a mind blank during a presentation? The fear of a mind blank can be a large part of the fear of public speaking for many people. It happened to Sally Field in her Emmy Acceptance speech in 2007:

How can you avoid this happening to you?
How to reduce the [...]

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8 states of mind that will make you a more compelling presenter

April 22, 2009

I believe in the inside-out method of presenting.
Rather than thinking about what I’m doing on the outside eg: a specific gesture or movement, I choose what’s going on inside – my state of mind. My state of mind is the biggest influence on how I come across.
Different states of mind work for different people. So [...]

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Why do you have a fear of public speaking?

March 19, 2009

From my own personal experience, from working with thousands of people face to face, and from asking my blog readers what they find hardest about presenting, I know that the fear of public speaking is a biggie.
And not everyone who suffers from the fear of public speaking has suffered a humiliating public speaking experience.
So why [...]