New research suggests a way to reduce fear of public speaking
December 10, 2009
Earlier this morning Martin Shovel tweeted about new research hailed as a breakthrough by the Guardian News. It occurred to me that it might have some application to reducing the fear of public speaking. Then tonight the research was again reported in excited tones by BPS Research Digest and they actually used reducing the fear of public speaking as an example of the practical application of the research.
The research
In the research, people received an electric shock every time a blue square appeared on a computer screen. Unsurprisingly, they became concerned (skin sensors measured their sweatiness) every time the blue square appeared. In psychological terms they had a learnt fear.
Make a fool of yourself to reduce stage fright and be a more engaging speaker
December 9, 2009
At the New Media Atlanta conference this year, Chris Brogan was the last keynote of the day. He’d watched all day as the backchannel drowned in snark:
After watching speaker after speaker get slammed via the Backnoise application, I was terrified, because I’d be the last speaker on the stage. They’d said nearly nothing nice about anyone, and I read almost every word with that “don’t look away and things are going to go bad” feeling in my belly.
He could have chosen to play safe. Instead he started his keynote presentation with a rap song: [Read more]
8 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 just talking to them. Eye connection has two major benefits:
- People in your audience will feel that you have genuinely connected with them and that you care about their reaction.
- Because you’re talking to people as if you were in a one-on-one conversation, you’ll come across as conversational. That makes you easy to listen to and engaging.
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 speaking.
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 better than the way you imagine you come across. That’s because you can feel your nervousness, but the audience can only see it or hear it. Mike Bogle from the TechTicker blog writes:
In listening to the recording I was actually amazed how relaxed I sounded relative to the whirlwind of anxiety that was actually going on inside my head.
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 on a course. That’s my comfort zone. But take me outside of that familiar situation, and I’ll get nervous.
If I were to get upset about being nervous, I would make it worse. I don’t fight my nerves, I use them.
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.
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? [Read more]
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 here’s a selection of states that may work for you. Experiment with them and see what works best for you.
If you’re nervous
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 do do many people have a fear of public speaking? [Read more]
