Don’t let these common fears hold you back.

A line from Caroline Casey’s speech at the Green Festival intrigued me. She said, “Our security used to be in laying low. Now, our security lies in showing up.” As independent professionals, it’s more important than ever to take on the challenge and speak up for our businesses. Sure, there can be fear in giving a presentation; there’s a lot of judgment in the world. But, what would it mean to your bottom line if you gave a talk that was focused, relevant and naturally persuasive? For our businesses to flourish, it’s time to get past any reluctance and dive in. Put together a talk for a local group or consider creating an on-line seminar. Do something that stretches you.

Some people I’ve coached have had very little fear when presenting a power-point slide show for their company. But now, when it comes to talking about themselves and their businesses, the vulnerability factor kicks in. Some people have grown so accustomed to others speaking for them; the thought of standing up and using their own voice is too intimidating. Some people have been criticized so severely that they’ll go to any length to avoid giving a speech. I’ve seen people spend thousands of dollars on advertising, using it as the only component of their marketing plan. What a waste… not only of dollars, but of precious life force. When we understand where the fear comes from and work with it in a positive way, we’ll have more business than we know what to do with. Our self-confidence will be a shining light for others. Some of the most brilliant public speakers I’ve seen and coached have had the worst stage fright. They simply made a decision to do what it takes to break free of it.

So, what does it take to show up and get results?

1) A belief in your product or service so strong that it overrides any anxiety.

2) A belief that you are the perfect person to be presenting these particular ideas and suggestions.

3) A true desire to help and empower someone else.

4) A well-thought out presentation that influences your target audience to take action

When you tap into these four, you won’t be able to hold yourself back. Look for the most appropriate opportunities to communicate your message with as many people as possible. One hour in front of a large audience is ripe with possibilities. (Beware; it can have serious negative effects if done too soon without proper preparation) Any major city has hundreds of networking venues looking for speakers. A simple google search will help you find them. Watch for these common mistakes that many speakers make and get help where you need it.

1) Lack of clear, organized structure

2) Poor delivery

3) Little or no emotional or intellectual connection

4) A weak call to action

When we step into a bigger domain, our hidden issues have a way of showing up with us. All parts of us become more visible. What made us successful at one point in our lives is usually the thing that’s holding us back from our next step. Take a look. There’s a lot of potential for personal growth as well as the growth of your business. When you’re ready for a significant leap, I invite you to consider creating a dynamic speech or hosting a lively workshop.

Pamela Ziemann has been coaching people with natural, authentic presentations since 1997. Build your self-confidence by signing up for her free e-course “Answering Tough Questions in the Moment” at http://www.OnlineSpeakingSchool.com You’ll receive 6 daily lessons, plus weekly tips to help you say what you want anytime, anywhere, with anyone.

We all know that being in the public eye is not only a huge part of running a business but also a key aspect to being taken seriously as a professional in Network Marketing, Sales, Corporate Relations, etc. Unfortunately, the fear of public speaking can make or break our success in life.

Conquering the FEAR that most people experience when they speak in front of others is most easily understood in four steps that just happen to coincide with the actual letters in the word itself.

F – Fight/Flight E – Excitement A – Adrenaline Rush R – Rehearse

F – Fight/Flight A person’s initial response to an unfamiliar situation is either fight or flight. If you choose flight, then you are basically saying, “I’m out of here”. You run from being pulled out of your comfort zone and refuse the idea of change. People that seek success and aren’t afraid of confronting their fears usually make the other choice…FIGHT! They recognize that they are outside of their comfort zone and are willing to face those fears head on. Yes, it is very scary but don’t let fear take control by running away from your dreams!

E – Excitement When you make the decision to walk in front of an audience and open your heart up to a bunch of strangers, you are excited and eager to forge forward on your journey. The realization of being personally responsible for the initiation of your own dream and acting on that dream is so exciting that it is overwhelming for the human body. So, what happens next?

A – Adrenaline Rush You made the choice to fight your fear of public speaking, you’re excited about this choice and now your adrenaline begins to rush throughout your entire body. Your knees begin to knock, your hands shake, your skin becomes clammy and worst of all…YOU CAN’T BREATHE! An adrenaline rush will cause you to second guess your choice of fight, but don’t give into those negative emotions.

R- Rehearse The last and most important step in conquering your fear of public speaking is to rehearse. You must do it over and over and over again until you are comfortable in your new environment, you deliver an outstanding presentation, and you embrace your audience like you’ve known them for years. Rehearsal is the step that will determine the quality of your public speaking.

Motivating champions worldwide! John Di Lemme

For updates on live events, teleclasses and more

go to >>>>>> http://john-dilemme.com

John is an International Motivational Speaker, Author and Business Coach who, through his live-seminars, training programs, live teleclasses, and websites has made a reality for thousands of people worldwide.

John wants to give you a FREE copy of his e-book

“177 Motivational Quotes to Live the Championship Life”

Go here now >>>> www.motive8.me

Panic attacks used to stop me in my tracks. When it came to public speaking, I just froze up. When you suffer from anxiety and have panic attacks, it can be an overwhelming experience. I don’t know about you, but if I have to speak in public, I’m starting to worry and panic weeks before the event even takes place. It’s a frustrating experience.

Public speaking is a very common fear. When you’re prone to panic attacks, public speaking can really push your anxiety buttons.

What exactly triggers panic attacks when speaking in public?

I know I used to turn red just standing up in a classroom and having to speak. Speaking in front of a group turned me bright red, and my heart would be racing, I just wish I knew how to stop panic attacks back then. What about office meetings? Do they make you uncomfortable also? If you’re put on the spot and have to express an opinion, do you have a panic attack? I know that it was extremely stressful, and while I knew what I wanted to say, and actually spoke, I was so overwhelmed inside, it was horrible. My pulse would be racing, I’d feel this throbbing in my head, my face would turn bright red, and my breathing would get more rapid. Let’s face it; sometimes it was really difficult to get the words out. I was capable of offering information, but the fact that I was having a panic attack made it feel near impossible. Now I know how to keep panic away, and you can too with a panic away program. You’ll be able to overcome panic attacks and finally feel comfortable with public speaking.

What exactly are people afraid of during panic attacks during public speaking?

Overcoming panic attacks means peace of mind. When you’re afraid of having a panic attach, you freeze up and are afraid you won’t be able to speak or are afraid the words won’t come out properly. This is more than jitters; this is an incredibly uncomfortable feeling when placed in front of other people. It’s a very threatening feeling inside, not your typical nerves. Unless you’ve experienced a panic attack, they can be difficult to express the fear and panic that goes along with them.

What should you do if you experience a panic attack?

Anxiety attacks often feel worse then they actually are. While they may overwhelm you, there’s isn’t an actual danger to you. This is an internal thing, and you can control the situation. Listen, a really great tip when it comes to public speaking is trying to remember it’s about the message you’re trying to convey, not about you. Take the focus off of yourself, and realize the information your expressing is good information.

So many people have a fear of public speaking, but when you mix in anxiety attacks, it can be frustrating. The first thing I’d recommend to push panic away, is to look into a panic away program.

Just because you’ve had anxiety attacks in the past, doesn’t mean you’ll have them for life. There is help, and there are ways to overcome your panic attacks. If you are ready to learn more about anxiety and panic attack treatments go on and check out the complete list of Natural Cures for Anxiety that are available now.

Summary: You can find many ways to overcome public speaking anxiety
. This article will discuss two methods, which are discovering what your fears actually are and visualizing yourself giving a public speech. You may be afraid and not know why. The importance of public speaking is immense. There is no reason to let your fear of public speaking keep you from progressing in life.

Method 1: Discover What Your Fears Are

Draw a line down the middle of a sheet of paper. On the left side list all the worst things you think could happen to you. For example you could be afraid of being criticized, so you would write “be criticized”, maybe you are afraid of looking foolish, or maybe it is stumbling over your words, you might be afraid of your mind going blank.

On the same left side next to your emotion articulate what your feelings are about that emotion. Let’s use “be criticized” as an example. If you are criticized write down how you think being criticized will affect you. In this example let’s assume you will feel stupid if you are criticized. You will write “feel stupid,” next to be criticized.

Understand that in most cases your worst fears will most likely not happen. Your deepest most ingrained fears are probably because of past experiences in a performance condition. Maybe you were involved in a performance condition and you were criticized on your performance and it made you feel horrible and stupid.

Time may have passed, but the experience is etched into your subconscious. It could be holding you back and you don’t know it. By bringing this experience to your remembrance you can analyze it in depth. Often by analyzing your past experiences you are able to shoot holes in your faulty assumptions or beliefs. You can better see things as they really were and thus be able to move forward.

Writing a journal is a method to analyze your past. Say it all and be specific. This will help unshackle the chains your public speaking anxiety and fear has on you. When you are given an assignment to speak in public, write in your journal about your feelings and emotions up until you give the speech. Assess your level of anxiety by ranking it on a 1 to 10 anxiety scale.

Ranking your anxiety will help you focus on what you need to work on first. Work on the higher numbers first. After analyzing your experience you may realize that your anxiety is unfounded. Your belief about your anxiety has now changed and your new beliefs have erased out your prior anxiety. Your feelings are based on your beliefs. Change your beliefs and your feelings will change.

If analyzing your experience still doesn’t do the trick, study it in depth. Read books and articles about it, or talk to someone who knows more than you do about that condition. Being able to come to terms with your past is important so you can be in the present. When you are giving a public speech you don’t want anything to hold you back even if it is subconscious.

On the right side of the paper on the top write down what you want to happen. Focus on what you can control. If you are interviewing for a job, you can’t control if you will get the job. So don’t write be hired because being hired is out of your control. You can control if you are confident, calm and poised in the interview which will make it more likely you will get the job.

Method 2: Visualize Giving Your Public Speech In Your Mind

Everything is created spiritually or mentally first before it is created physically. Dreams that come true happen because they were first a dream. Find a quiet place to meditate. Picture yourself in your mind’s eye giving your public speech. Visualize giving your speech in as much detail as possible.

Conclusion: Anxiety and public speaking can be overcome through analyzing your fears and visualizing yourself giving a speech. Research has proven that performance is improved when visualizing in your minds eye your performance first.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

Learn more about public speaking and the author Bret Bradshaw by visiting MindBodyAndMoney.com.

Many studies suggest that for many people fear of public speaking is even worse than the fear death and dying. If you are someone who has to speak in public a lot, give sermons or any other form of public speaking, it might be wise to make a test for anxiety.

As amazing as that sounds, it means that most people at a funeral would rather be the person in the coffin than the one giving the eulogy! Although this might not be true, the truth is that public speaking is a test for anxiety that most people would gladly not face.

There are several tips and tricks that one can use to get over this dreadful fear. Most common used is the old “picture everyone in their underwear”, but while that trick may get few chuckles, there are quite a few more practical steps one can take when you need to speak in public, the test for anxiety that can be so very difficult for most of us.

Why Picture Them in Their Underwear?

We wouldn’t encourage any speaker to picture anyone in their underwear; that is just a good way to get sued – or to get sick, depending on the looks of your audience! However, the whole reason that this became a practice for public speaking, and a test for anxiety, is because this was meant to remind the speaker that his or her audience is made up of human beings, just like him or her.

The first step is to put your mind at rest as they are not there to hurt you or make fun of you as most probably they are nervous, anxious and afraid of speaking like most of us. In addition to that we all have our own little things we are terrified of as well so you can relax and realize we are all the same.

Another important tip when talking about public speaking, to test for anxiety, is to picture the faces of everyone in the crowd individually, and make yourself feel as if you are talking to that person one-on-one. Forget the crowd, which is only going to make you nervous.

Instead, really put yourself in that singular conversation with that one person. Speak to him or her directly during your discourse or sermon. You see how your anxiety lessens when you are having a face-to-face conversation with someone rather than thinking of the large number in the crowd.

The Actual Public Speaking Test for Anxiety

Many times people feel that the way they feel during the speech or sermon is out of their control and if they get anxious and nervous, that’s it. They will feel anxious and nervous.

To address your anxiety better, it’s very important to make a test for yourself before it’s time to make a speech. This is the real public speaking test and it comes before your speech.

To start picture yourself giving a speech, lecture or a sermon. Do you feel your heart racing and getting your palms sweaty? This test can be an excellent way to get to know your real mental and physical symptoms as you give a speech in a real live situation.

Are you afraid, and if so, of what? Of not knowing the answer to a question that’s asked of you, or of losing your place during your speech? Are you afraid of embarrassing yourself, of fainting or dying or throwing up?

Are these fears something you didn’t even have before we mentioned them? This can be a strong clue that you should take a public speaking test for anxiety before your lecture or speech. It’s surprising how strong the power of suggestion is; if you start to thing that you are or feel sick, you will be and if losing your place worries you it might happen.

However, you can use this to your advantage as well. If you tell yourself that you are going to be a strong, successful, forthright, dynamic speaker, then you will be. If you tell yourself that your colleagues or congregation or whomever your audience is will respect you and respond to you, then they more likely will.

To address your fears and reactions honestly and effectively you need to be honest with yourself so that you’ll know what your initial reactions and fears are.

Public Speaking Test for Anxiety – Preparation Is Important

As you are doing this public speaking test for anxiety it can give you a glue how important preparation can be. As you practise more and more and your material will become familiar you’ll notice that you are much less likely to have any problems with it.

Once you are truly prepared things like losing a place in your notes is easily overcome and you are much better able to answer any questions your listeners might have.

You should be very honest with yourself as you are taking this public speaking test for anxiety as that will point out your weaknesses so you’ll know where to improve. Use that information to your advantage and prepare well for your presentation!

After Making The Public Speaking Test – Put Things in Perspective

You still might have fears and doubts about your ability as a speaker, but that is only natural and very normal. We are all just human beings and we can only do so well with a lecture or a speech.

Someone might ask you a question and you don’t know an answer immediately. Disaster? No, just admit honestly that you are not sure and would like to research the subject and get back with them once you have more information. If something happens that might be embarrassing, just laugh it off and have fun! It’s not so serious!

There is no anxiety test for public speaking that is a cure for all, but after an honest evalution you are better prepared. Most importantly, public speaking is just a hard test for anxiety that you should feel proud of yourself to take on such a project and to get in front of an audience in the first place!

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Learn more about The Public Speaking Test For Anxiety and other issues on How To Solve Panic Attacks