Public speaking is a common source of stress in today’s world. Fear of public speaking stems from instinct. You find yourself on stage, in the spotlight, with a large audience watching you. You literally feel like you are under scrutiny, being evaluated from all sides, scrutinized, with every gesture and every word being watched. By the way, almost any normal person experiences nervousness and feels a sense of responsibility at this moment. It is important to them how they and their speech will be perceived. Being in such a position is very stressful, and our instinct tells us that when we are stressed, we should run away! But we are human beings, which means we can pull ourselves together and not give in to our instincts. Let’s try to help ourselves!

Let’s do an exercise to understand the nature of nervousness.

Exercise 1:

Everyone is familiar with the old custom of teaching dogs and children to swim, right? The youngster is thrown into deep water, and he has no choice but to swim and learn to swim. So let’s start with a speech.

It’s no secret that the right wording is already a step towards a solution.

Now, everyone will come up in front of the audience and explain why, EXACTLY WHY, they might feel nervous when speaking. What can you be afraid of? Although I believe that fear is not the most appropriate word here (and I deliberately removed it from the title and description of the meeting. Therefore, we will use the word “fear” conditionally).

You can simply say:

• what exactly you don’t like;
• what state is the most unpleasant (before, after, during);
• what causes discomfort.

It is much easier to allow yourself to be yourself when hiding behind a mask. Therefore, for the warm-up in the first exercise, we will have colorful masks.

Conclusion: It is important to understand what exactly causes your fear.

Exercise 2:

According to my observations, reluctance to speak in front of an audience is not always due to fear and anxiety. Sometimes it is also a lack of motivation.

Or a situation where a person has no need or desire to open up to others. After all, speaking in public is always about telling a story about yourself. Even if it is non-verbal, between the lines, when we speak, we reveal a part of ourselves. Do you agree?

We will need Exercise 2 to give free rein to our inner extrovert or to awaken it in those in whom it lies dormant. To feel that extroversion and openness can also be enjoyable. And at the same time, to get to know those who are not yet familiar with each other. Props: candy

“I have never … jumped out of a plane with a parachute.”

Those in the audience who have done this come up and give him one of their candies.

a) “I have never … and I really want to.”

b) “I have never … and I’m not going to.”

Conclusion: Well, now we’ve gotten to know each other. In this audience, in the context of the topics discussed, we can see who has the richest life experience and who still has everything ahead of them.

Secrets

So, let’s start looking at ways to stop worrying when speaking in public.

Let me say right away that there will be no classification as such. It is difficult to classify them, since they are all interrelated: psychology is intertwined with physiology, methods are applied before, after, and during performances.

I will let you in on a secret: unfortunately, there is no universal recipe (such as taking doping, taking a couple of breaths, massaging certain areas, and immediately gaining tremendous self-confidence). Overcoming anxiety requires some work on yourself.

The first vector: Preparation

Anxiety arises when there is room for unpredictable chance.
Creative people, for example, take this phenomenon for granted, as part of the world around them.

It is much more difficult for pedants, those who are used to planning their day in advance, calculating their every step and all their expenses. Such people need certainty about tomorrow like they need air. And then, for them, an unpredictable situation is perceived as a catastrophe, hence the feeling of anxiety.

On the one hand, although we consider anxiety unnecessary and disruptive, it is important to remember that without it, it is impossible to move forward. Of course, you can make your life as safe as possible by avoiding any risk, and therefore anxiety. But on the other hand, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

On the other hand, if you are worried about the unknown, then simply narrow down that unknown.

Narrowing down the unknown lies, first and foremost, in what we say. Mastering the topic adds confidence.

Therefore, it is important to prepare the essence of the speech:

• Plan your speech, make sure it has a clear structure and is logical. If it’s appropriate and you have time, rehearse your speech (think back to when you’ve been so nervous that you couldn’t get a word out, and there was no room for fear).
• What kind of audience will you be speaking to, and how are they likely to react?
• Think about what questions might be asked. It is also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the venue where you will be speaking. Try to remember and take into account the characteristics of the venue.