Public speaking. Just the thought of standing in front of a crowd, with all eyes on you, can send shivers down the spine of even the most confident individuals. The fear of public speaking is incredibly common, though when I was faced with it, it felt like I was the only one who was nervous, This past week I had the opportunity to speak in front of my entire company at an a team building event. Though this was an opportunity I had so badly wanted, once I had to actually do it, I found myself shaking with fear. However, once I was finished I rode a high the rest of the weekend, feeling accomplished and excited for the next time I would get the opportunity to speak again. I wanted to share some of the things I felt helped me to overcome this fear and deliver a speech with confidence and ease!
Wrote In My Own Voice:
One of the biggest hurdles in public speaking is feeling disconnected from your own words. Many individuals stumble over their speeches because they're written in a style or using language that feels foreign to them. To combat this, I wrote my speech in my own voice. I used words and phrases that I naturally used in everyday conversation. I think even at one point I said "If that's not your jam". This not only makes the speech easier to deliver but also helps in establishing a genuine connection with your audience. I was given a quick pep talk the night before my speech by one of the vice principles at the company, the overall message was, just be yourself. This gave me extra confidence knowing I truly wrote my speech in my own words. Much like how I write my blog, it was written as I actually speak, This gave me the confidence I needed because I didn't feel like I was reading someone else's words. It was my story, my experiences, and my true thoughts!
Left Room for Error and Adaptation:
I accepted that mistakes were inevitable, and that's perfectly okay. Instead of striving for perfection, I focused on being authentic and adaptable. I left room in my speech for unplanned additions, jokes, and even mistakes. At one point, My speech was talking about the fear that came along with moving up in my career by coming to my current company, and then I joked how I was scared again now standing in front of everyone giving that speech. Once I embraced that me being my authentic self gave me an opportunity to connect with my team on a human level, the butterflies seemed to fly away. One of the biggest things I learned was those spontaneous and imperfect moments were the times the people listening laughed, sat up in their chairs, or were just generally were more engaged in what I had to say.
Focus on the Message, Not the Messenger:
Shift your focus away from yourself and onto the message you're delivering. Remember that you're not speaking to impress others but to convey important information or ideas. When you genuinely believe in the value of your message, it becomes easier to share it with conviction and confidence. My most recent speech was the topic of "A Guide to Balancing Work & Wellbeing", If you read my blog regularly, you will know this is a topic that was near and dear to my heart, making it that much easier to be passionate about the message I was speaking. I truly believed in my message, I felt that if I could get my team to implement even just a few of my suggestions, we would be better as a team and individuals. The success of your speech, truly starts with believing in your own message.
Practice Makes Perfect, Or Does it? :
The old age phrase "practice makes perfect" holds true when it comes to public speaking, but just like anything too much of one thing is never good. I had big plans to have my speech completed a month before I had to speak it. That I would be practicing everyday, many times a day, leading up to the big day, and that I would have it memorized word for word. However, life got in the way. If you know how the insurance industry is right now, you will understand why this dream of being overly prepared, just wasn't feasible but to be honest, I think it came to benefit me. I finished my speech about 4 days before I had to speak it, which gave me just enough time to read it out loud and tweak where needed, but not enough time to get in my head about every little sentence. I think given the circumstances, this may change in the future depending on the caliber of the speech I am giving, but don't let lack of practice time keep you from getting up there and getting your message out. You just may find the lack of robotic memorization, gives your speech character and relatability.
Visualize Success:
Visualization is a powerful tool for overcoming fear and building confidence. Take some time to visualize yourself delivering a successful speech. Imagine the audience reacting positively to your words, nodding in agreement, and applauding at the end. When I did find the times to practice, I actually visualized the people I knew would be in the room, My directing manager smiling as I included her and her daughter in my speech, the owner of my company nodding his head in approval of my message, the founder of my team beaming with pride, and guess what? All of those things actually happened! Visualizing success truly helped to alleviate my anxiety and instill a sense of self-assurance before I went up in front of everyone.
Utilize Relaxation Techniques:
Before stepping onto the stage, take a few moments to calm your nerves with relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or visualization exercises. These techniques can help reduce anxiety and promote a sense of calmness and focus. There were a few speakers and breaks before me. Instead of letting those be times that I could have let the build up increase my anxiety, I used them as times to take deep breaths, focus on unclenching my body starting from my toes to my nose. By the time I was called to go up, my body was naturally in a state of relaxation. Until I got up there and began to shake a bit, but hey I am still learning, That will be my next feat!
Overcoming the fear of public speaking is not an overnight process, and I still have a lot to learn, but with dedication and practice, I truly believe it is entirely achievable even for someone like me who's hands were shaking the entire time. By writing in your own voice, embracing imperfections, practicing just enough, focusing on your message, visualizing success, and utilizing relaxation techniques, you are setting the perfect platform to develop the confidence and skills needed to captivate any audience! So go ahead, step onto that stage, and let your voice be heard!
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