03.15.08
Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking
Public speaking tops the list of what people fear the most. And while the opportunities for public speaking are numerous, and have the potential to be extremely rewarding for ourselves and our careers, many people do not dare to take the first steps towards overcoming this fear, but choose to dodge these opportunities when they arrive. In this article, I offer a simple tip on how to overcome this fear so that we can make use of the opportunities that come our way.
It’s not the speaking itself that we’re afraid of, it is the public, or audience, that we face when speaking that frightens us. This is largely due to the fact that we usually see our audience as this big monster, or blob, that we don’t quite understand, and don’t really know how to deal with or tame. We don’t know what it wants, or whether our presentation will make it happy or angry. Where are its “eyes”? Where are we meant to look? What are we talking to? How should we talk?
With this view of our audience, no wonder why public speaking can be a frightening experience!
The best way to see your audience is, rather than meet them and greet them as a huge blob, see them as a group of individuals. And, so, when you’re addressing your audience, speak to them as though you are having a one to one conversation with all of them at the same time. Speaking to one person is usually not that intimidating. It doesn’t top any list of phobias. We might not be good communicators, but that’s something to work on. Our fear usually arises when talking to a crowd. But by seeing the crowd as a group of individuals, we will have better eye contact, as we try to address the entire crowd on a one to one basis. But, of course, you can’t really see eye to eye with every person in the room. You give the impression that you are talking to them individually by making eye contact with different people in the room.
Seeing your audience as a group of individuals can help alleviate the anxiety that you experience when speaking in public. But while you may theoretically agree with this piece of advise, it’s important to know whether you are truly convinced by it by practicing to give a public presentation.
So go on stage, and have a one to one conversation!
computerchi said,
March 16, 2008 at 12:30 am
Nice one. Also, if you select a member of the audience and spend about 5sec looking them in the eye it would help you concentrate and will draw the audience to the conversation. Looking at the wall or at the floor will only distract them.
finally, there is no alternative to knowing your stuff.
Haider said,
March 16, 2008 at 7:10 am
Thanks computerchi..
I should try out your tip on looking at one person for 5 seconds. I tend to look around throughout my presentation..
Bashar said,
March 16, 2008 at 10:22 am
Thanks Haider. That’s your shortest post so far
Nice idea to look at it. I should it try if I ever go on stage.
Haider said,
March 16, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Bashar, don’t get too used to the length of the post..!
Skinnybumblebee said,
March 17, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Nice.
Then i think it should be called “fear of people”
No one is afraid to speak obviously! Their either afraid from the “people” or being the center of attention…. or some just have stage fright.
Allot of people told me to either imagine them naked, which is quite disturbing really and its not possible…but the jest of that method is that you see yourself better than the audience to gain more confidence and Smoothen the process…
Haider said,
March 17, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Yes, the naked audience solution is very disturbing.. some might find it amusing, which would help them relax on stage..
The thing is, if we don’t really know what “audience” means, it can be very scary dealing with “it”.. we no longer see the audience as people!!
Thanks for coming by
mohammad alkazemi said,
March 18, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Salam
Degrading your audience by assuming they are naked just shows how lowly you regard yourself being, proving that by not being able to feel superior except when you are surrounded by some poor lowly barbaric naked goons. It stresses out how much you lack dignity and also proves the proverb correct “A single eyed man is a king amongst the blind”.
I think the secret to “confidence” (and i stress confidence not SELF confidence) in public appearances is the strength of belief you have in what you are about to convey. Some speakers go on stage and restructure the course of mankind, they influence them in every possible way be it good or bad, Others just tell people what they think will be accepted willingly and not opposed or rebuked, Its the latter that always seek the approval of the audience and live in constant fear that they might not get it.
Haider said,
March 19, 2008 at 8:07 am
Mohammad, I agree that the more confidence you have in your beliefs, the less fearful you would be in presenting them (computerchi also made the point that you should know your material).
However, the problem arises when you try to present your material in a way that your audience would understand. It’s very easy to say what’s on your mind, without a care for who listens. But when you try to customize your message, not so that it can be accepted by your audience, but in order to suit their level of thinking and to address their concerns and misconceptions, then you need to understand what your audience is like. Not understanding your audience can be frightening, which is the point I’m making.
At one point I was very confident in my beliefs, but frightened that I might present them in a bad way, and I was extremely afraid of public speaking for this reason.
mohammad alkazemi said,
March 19, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Well the point you put forward is true to some extent. The way I see it, if you really understand your beliefs and I mean that you thoroughly and completely comprehend your beliefs and ideologies, and that only happens when you have had extensive conversations and discussions with yourself trying to rebuke confirm and reaffirm them, then it would be much easier for you to say your mind and add to that a comprehensive vocabulary with decent grammar and linguistics then your good to go.
Some people unfortunately do not give there thoughts and beliefs enough time to be completely dissolved, they quickly adopt it and become vigorous defenders of concepts they know little of. “إن الدين متين فأوغل فيه برفق” religion and faith is like a field filled yeast crop if you try to ram your way in then you will only add to your injuries but if you slowly make your way inside it the you will not feel fazed the slightest bit.
Give yourself the privilege.. take your time, but do not WASTE your time. Think thoroughly discuss your ideas with others addressing them as theories and when you have all the evidence backing your thoughts then be my guest and level that field.
Haider said,
March 19, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I agree, not knowing *how* to present your beliefs because you don’t know *what* they are can make you fear any audience!