'CONNECT' 9 Tips on Public Speaking

Visualization is daydreaming with a purpose.

Bo Bennett

One very effective way to overcome stage fright is visualisation. Human beings alone can visualise. We can see the images of what we have done or going to do in our mind's eye. We can visualise a future event even before it actually takes place.

A confident speaker and a nervous speaker differ in what and how they visualise their upcoming speech event. A confident speaker sees a very positive picture of his delivering a powerful speech before his audience, his effectively handling difficult situations during his speech etc. On the other hand a nervous speaker visualises just the opposite. He visualises himself fumbling in front of the audience, making mistakes while delivering his speech etc.

If you have stage fright, do the exercise given below before you speech session:

Sit in a calm place, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Visualise yourself standing confidently before your audience and delivering your speech. See the faces of the people who are in the front row. Visualise them nodding their heads and acknowledging what you say. See yourself very confidently delivering the speech.

Repeat this exercise a few times before you deliver the speech and you will find a very big difference in your confidence level.

N C Sridharan

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'CONNECT' 8 Tips on Public Speaking

A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success.

Joyce Brothers

As I mentioned earlier, the best cure for speech anxiety is speech itself! If you feel anxious to speak the natural tendency will be to avoid any occasion in which you may be required to speak. If you want to get rid of this problem, you should volunteer to speak first. You will get over the initial fear over a period of time.

One of the major causes for stage fear is negative internal dialogue. These internal dialogue discourage you from taking any initiative to speak. You should replace the negative inner dialogue with positive ones. Try the following:

'I will mess up this speech' to 'I am going to deliver a good speech'

'Others are critically watching me talk' to 'Others are my encouraging friends'   

'I am sorry I have to speak' to 'I am happy I got this opportunity to speak'

'I am not good at public speaking' to 'I will try to be my best and improve over time'

'I will feel nervous and lost in my speech' to 'I will relax and calm down'

You are what you believe yourself to be. By repeating the above inner dialogue, your own self belief will change from a negative to a positive one.

N C Sridharan

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