My final post is a list of exercises to try to help manage and beat public speaking fear.  The more you put into them the more you will get out of them. Don’t hold back to build your confidence and speak with confidence.

The Public Speaking Fear Drills

On your own, or with a couple of other people in front of an audience or group of friends do the following exercises,:
With an imaginary ax, chop wood although calling to the audience, “Timber, timber, timber!” Repeat.

While churning energetically with an old-fashioned churn,shout, “Watch the butter fly! Watch the butter fly Watch the .
butter fly!” Repeat, opening the eyes as wide as achievable whilst you talk

Pretend you are ship-wrecked at sea. Although you are fighting sharks with one
hand, wave to another ship and cry, “Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy!”

Wave to a friend a block away. He can’t hear you so start waving and loudly calling, “Hello, there”

With an imaginary swatter move all around the platform saying vigorously, “Swat that fly! Swat that fly!” Swat as you
exclaim, and keep the exercise up for a full half minute.

Imagine honey bees inside your hair. brush them out with your hands as you jump around crying, “Take ‘em away!” Keep this up for twenty seconds. Repeat should you still have the energy.

Deliver a two minute “I Am the Greatest!” speech. Brag about anything you please, but actually brag. In this drill see how obnoxious and egotistical it is possible to be.

Count to fifty with spirit. Again count to fifty , this time as an angry or a happy man would count.Exaggerate this.

Imitate a few of of the following characters (in speech and manner):
a. Loud-mouthed Charlie Bratton.
b. A baseball umpire proud of his position.
c. An angry basketball player.
d. An excited fan at a basketball game.
e. A talkative intoxicated man.
f. A giggling school-girl.
g. A gossiping old woman
h. A grumpy old man

Make a spirited talk for 45 seconds on this topic: Men are far better
drivers than , or, women are much better drivers than men.

Talk for a minute about some of the following terms:
thingamajig
sidewinder
monkey-business
skullduggery
abracadabra
razzle dazzle
white elephant
heebie jeebies
raspberries
snoop
wolves
bigamy
snobbishness
puppy
yo-yos
idiosyncrasy

These drills can help anyone with public speaking fear that is not acute. When you have something more please see a qualified specialist.

Public Speaking Fear Summary

Public speaking fear is a common fear. Many of the confident speakers today have suffered from this fear. With some understanding, application of speech drill like the above or other simple techniques they have built their confidence up. If others have beaten their public speaking fear than you can to. Keep at it, trying different things, practicing and giving speeches and presentations you will beat your public speaking fear to be able to speak with confidence to any size audience

Public speaking fear is a natural fear that is common among many people. Although it is natural it came be overcome and the benefits of being a confident speaker can be enjoyed by anyone who has this natural fear. Performing speech drills is one way to overcome the public speaking fear.

My second speech drill (see previous post for the first) is for a speaker to tell and show the way to do any activity “which he is very familiar with, for example, – swimming, golf, volleyball, boxing, fishing, rowing, jumping a rope, playing basketball,etc.
Or he may well pick an object (anything) and rave about its values to an imaginary or real audience. He talks about the item as though it was worth a million dollars, pleads with men and women to get it, tells and shows them why they will need it. He puts his entire heart, body, and soul into the drill – despite the fact that realizing it’s only a drill and far much more exaggerated than any speaking he will genuinely do in public. But such drilling will pay a speaker large dividends by giving him freedom of spirit and fearless force when he does speak in public.
Speech exercises which call for violent, exaggerated physical action will help an individual lose the inhibitions which contribute to fear. They’re somewhat like a strong man lifting heavy weights. Since the strong man has become accustomed to lifting heavy weights he can lift ordinary objects as though they were just feathers. Similarly, when a speaker does heavy drills, successfully appearing in front of any any audience becomes like a walk in the park for him. When he can do ridiculous stunts just before an audience, speaking sensibly for listeners is comparatively simple.

Public Speaking Fear Drills Purpose

The purpose of drills is to assist in control and direct nervous energy as opposed to check or kill it.
Some students appear to have the mistaken idea about controlling public speaking fear. For example, one said, “When I’m up there speaking I wish I could really feel just like a block of wood.”
What type of speech could a block of wood make? Would that young man prefer being a dead mule to being a race horse eager at the bit?
Really, to speak well, we ought to feel a challenge when we face an audience. We maintain all our nervous energy, but we focus it to work positively as opposed to in a confused and distressing way.

Therefore public speaking fear is overcome and used to perform at your best when making a speech.

My next post will have some more speech drills and exercising for defeating your public speaking fear.

Another way to beat public speaking fear is through speech drills.

Public Speaking Fear Drill No. 1

Speech drilling, which requires a person to speak with exaggerated force and big gestures, will help overcome stage fright. For instance, in private practice or with other students, do the following speech laboratory exercises:
Choose a favorite hobby (your most active one.) Tell and show an imaginary audience how to take part in it. Do this with much pep. Put zip, spirit, and sparkle into your tones. Let your feelings show in your face, eyes and body. Overdo it! Feel that people must share your hobby, not tomorrow or next week, but as you talk about it.
Talk with force and pep, much louder and faster than you usually talk, and with an active body from head to toe. This is only a speech drill so don’t be afraid of high pressure or any¬thing else. As you talk nod your head vigorously (when the thought calls for it), shake your fist, or point directly and force¬fully to demonstrate a point. Make any kind of bodily move¬ments that will explain or emphasize. But make all movements big and positive. No little, easy, timid movements.

Speak earnestly with your eyes and face. Plead with them. Plead wih your whole being for your audience to believe and act upon your ideas. Be so much in earnest an audience must believe.
-Please don’t get tired or dismiss this practice as nonsense. Do the drill again and again — today, tomorrow, next week, next month. Give this exercise a few vigorous minutes often. No soft peddling, please. It is work. Sweat at it. Hit it hard, and then forget it until next time. The purpose of this drill is to cause a speaker to become so excited about his subject he forgets to be afraid. He should talk with intense excitement, like a kid with a new toy — wild with joy. Such practice – will help a speaker break the stiff shell which reserved habits have built abound him.

Try this out and see how your confidence builds and your public speaking fear starts to recede. I’ll have another drill you can use for victory over public speaking fear.

Is the fear of public speaking passed down the generations? From father to son, mother to daughter and promoted by society?

In high school Billy “acts up” when he is with the gang. But when he tries to make an announcement about basketball during assembly (with important people listening), his knees begin tap­ping like old dry bones, and his tongue is. so thick he can hardly blurt out a few stumbling words.

Then this boy who once bravely raved about fire trucks takes a deep breath and sighs to himself, “I’m glad that’s over, and I hope I never have to do it again.”

Billy grows up. He marries.

And one day Billy, Junior rushed into the house yelling. Daddy, Daddy! Look! Look at the circus parade. Elephants and everything! Look, Look!”

But Billy, Senior, who once saw red fire trucks, looked up prudishly from his newspaper, and said, “Yes, yes, son. I know. Go play with your blocks. Don’t bother Daddy.”

So the vicious circle expands.

People learn to kill their spirits. They become afraid to speak. Frequently they hear, “It is better to remain quiet and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubts.”

So even when we know we have excellent ideas we may be afraid to express them. We might make a mistake. Other people are surely smarter than we. Somebody might laugh! — or think, “What a big dummy!”

We’re not going to be that kind, of dummy. So we say nothing and remain a real dummy.

People learn the fear of public speaking largely because of the stops im­posed upon them by culture. “Be a good listener. Silence is golden,” are common ideas. And this is good advice. But people should speak up and out, too. We must observe rules and con­vention, we need stop lights, but we can’t get far without go¹ sig­nals also. We must “snap out” of this emotional straight jacket which well-meaning, but mis-undertsanding people have slapped upon us.

OK. It’s great to know the fear of public speaking is not in our genes. But what can you do about it. In my next post in my series on the fear of public speaking, I will start to look at ways to overcome the fear of public speaking.

Is anyone born with the fear of public speaking? How come many have a fear of public speaking?

Knowing that nearly everybody is tempted by fear may be consoling. Fear is learned, and many people, perhaps unconsciously, are busily teaching it.
Stage fright must be learned because people have only two natural fears at birth — the fear of falling and fear of loud noise. Then how is fear of speaking to an audience learned?   .
It could start when three-year-old Bobby comes into the house, saying, “Daddy, Daddy! Look! Come look at ,the fire trucks! They have ladders and everything! And they’re all painted red! Come on, Daddy, look at the fire trucks!”.
As the little fellow speaks he waves his arms, bugs his eyes, and -nods his head toward a front window. But in vain. Father’s long face is like a twisted prune as he looks up from the news and says dryly, “Yes, yes, son, I know. Go play with your blocks. Daddy wants to read.”
When Bobby started to school he was excited about nearly everything. He learned the rules and he learned to> lose much of his brave, lively spirit. He got a special lesson in this one day from a teacher who had argued with her boy friend the night before.
It happened at recess when Billy was raving about the picture of a ship on the wall. “What a pretty ship!” he cried. “I’d like to ride on a big boat like that. Miss Day, have you ever been on a ship?”
No answer.
“Well . . . have you?”
“Billy, little boys should be seen and not heard,” snapped the teacher.
At home Billy wants to chat with people who come to visit. But his mother knows “silence is golden,” so she sends Billy to his room to play with his silent golden blocks.
Other people say, “You talk too much, boy. Don’t ask so many silly questions.”
After feeling several wet blankets Bill’s lively spirit is curbed.
After all, he doesn’t want to be odd, so he won’t talk so much. Nobody’s going to call him “Windy.” So he actually becomes afraid to speak freely.

My next post will continue on how the fear of public speaking is learnt. I will in this series on the fear of public speaking provide some tips to overcoming it to be a confident speaker.

There are many myths around public speaking anxiety.  One of these is that public speaking anxiety is bad for you. It can in fact increase your level of performance and make you come across better to the audience. In fact it is normal for an audience to rate the speaker’s performance much higher than the speaker themselves.

Here is a great video that discusses the myths of public speaking anxiety and provides information on public speaking. The sound quality isn’t great but it is worth persevering with.

The Confident Speaker by Larina Kase and Harrison Monarth is well written and will help people to speak confidently in front of groups of any size. It is great for beginners and people finding advancement in their careers been held back by their fear of public speaking.

You can find the The Confident Speaker: Beat Your Nerves and Communicate at Your Best in Any Situation here

Whether you’re standing before an audience of businesspeople or your classmates, the effect is the same. All of your preparation flies out the window, your knees knock together and you must force yourself to take the stage. Public speaking is a terrifying experience for most people, but it need not be. Most people would rather have a root canal performed than speak in front of a group of people. However, performing well in this environment is not as difficult as it sounds. In fact, it can be an enjoyable experience once you get past your fear of public speaking.

To suceed in the corporate world and to some extent your own personal world, overcoming your fear of public speaking is essential. Which poses the questions: How do you get past this seemingly insurmountable obstacle? How do you bury that fear deep in your heart and not let it overwhelm your defenses? How do you survive such a ghastly ordeal?

1. It’s Not as Bad as It Seems The very first thing you need to understand is that it is not as bad as it seems. You are focusing on the bad things, the things that might happen or could happen that would make you seem foolish or unprepared, that would make your audience laugh in derision, rather than in good humor. Such fears are natural, but baseless. The audience is not there to laugh at you; they have no desire to pick apart your performance looking for absurdities. They have come to hear you speak. They believe you have valuable information to impart and they want to know what you have to say. They obviously place a great deal of value on your opinion and expertise; else, they would have found somewhere else to go.

2. Everyone Experiences a Fear of Public Speaking Everyone experiences a fear of public speaking, no matter how experienced a speaker they might be. This is important to understand – everyone feels the same fear, the same trepidation. Everyone gets the same butterflies in their stomach and experiences the same sweat-slicked palms; even those with years of experience under their belts still succumb to the fear of public speaking. So what does this tell you? It tells you two things: first, the fear you feel is natural and nothing of which to be ashamed. Second, it tells you that you are not alone and if you work through it, you can reap tremendous rewards.

3. You are the Expert – You were Chosen to Speak for a Reason Perhaps you have the most in-depth understanding of a particular product’s features. Perhaps you are responsible for developing and implementing new techniques with wide-ranging ramifications. Maybe you are the only person who understands your company’s new product/service and must explain how it works to potential investors or even to company sales reps. Regardless of the reason, you are the expert – it was no mere accident you were chosen to speak at this event. You have important, vital, unique information to impart, which brings enormous value to your audience. This is your chance to share your information, so that alone should help you resolve your fear for public speaking.

4. Understand the Value You Bring to the Table Once you understand the value you bring to the table, the rest of the process is very simple. While overcoming that fear of public speaking might seem impossible, you can use numerous techniques to help you move past it. For instance, meditation-style breathing techniques, used before you take the stage, will help slow your racing heart and stem the flood of adrenaline surging through your body.

Remember that the audience is likely not going to notice your sweating palms or your nervousness; in many ways, fear of public speaking is simply all in your mind. Having a positive mindset and the right outlook on the event will help you move past this fear. Remember, you are the expert here, take that to heart, and all else will fall into place and you can confidently deliver your engaging speech.

David Wilkins has put together a complementary 20 page report full of simple and effective ways to reduce your fear of public speaking, which will help you quickly deal with and solve any anxiety issues. To download it instantly visit: http://www.publicspeakingmentor.com/banishfearreport.html

Some people are stressed just with the thought of standing up and speaking in public. They avoid public speaking like a plague. It´s hard for them to have all eyes on them. Whether they work alone or with large numbers of people, they would have to speak in public if they want to accomplish certain tasks. Also, one cannot be a leader and achieve meaningful accomplishments if they themselves are afraid to speak in public.

One of the main things to remember in order to figure out a way on how to overcome fear of public speaking is that it does not have to be stressful. Understand what the cause of the stress is and where it is coming from. You would also have to remember the key principles. This will give you the confidence that you need when speaking in public.

So many aspects in life are stressful as they already are. Public speaking does not have to be stressful. If you can´t help but feel stressed with just the idea of speaking in public, then deal with the stress in the same way that you would deal with any of the stress in your life.

So many people have already learned the tips when it comes to speaking in front of people and they managed not to be stressed at all. Voices tremble and knees would shake – these are the most common signs of fear of public speaking.

If these are already happening to you, and you want to overcome your fear, the first thing you should do is to stop these from happening. It´s your body, clearly you can control it.

It does not make you abnormal if you are afraid to speak in public. A way for you on how to overcome fear of public speaking is to have the right plan of action, right understanding, and right guiding principles. It is not hard, in fact, you can do this overnight. You just have to set your approach on the right path when it comes to speaking in public.

Another thing one must remember as a way on how to overcome fear of public speaking is that he does not have to be brilliant nor perfect in order to succeed. The people who are afraid to speak in public watch the people who could and think that they should be as entertaining, smart, witty, polished, and calm as them.

That shouldn´t be the case. First of all, they should stop bringing themselves down. The main key is to just believe in themselves and to just do it. If you want to learn how to overcome your fear of public speaking, i recommend Martin’s Ng surviving speaking disasters guide. Learn how you can get rid of your public speaking phobia easily and be able to give public speeches with confidence.

If your stomach churns just at the thought of speaking in front of a group of people, you’re not alone. In fact, Americans rate public speaking as their number one fear – even ahead of death (hence the old joke that you would rather be in the coffin than giving the eulogy)!

Think about what’s going through your head right at that moment when you are getting ready to open your mouth, whether it’s at a staff meeting at work or in front of the local YMCA parents’ group. Yes, I admit that I hear voices in my head – and I bet you do, too.

Take a moment, close your eyes and really listen for that voice – what is it saying to you?

When I ask clients to share what that voice in their head is telling them right before they speak, they invariably come out with a whiny, annoying voice spewing negatives like “you’re going to make a fool of yourself” or “who do you think you are?”

That voice goes by many names. Creativity expert Julia Cameron calls it “The Censor.” I call it the “Joy-Sucker” because it sucks the joy out of your work and your life. The Joy-Sucker undermines your confidence and makes you less able to convey your knowledge and experience to your audience. In its worst manifestations, it may even cause you to forget your own name!

The Joy-Sucker may come from old beliefs about ourselves or perhaps a comment made by an unhelpful friend, teacher or former spouse.

Instead of allowing the Joy-Sucker to sap your confidence, I recommend replacing it with a positive affirmation or Mantra. Mantra is a term borrowed from meditation and yoga and means a word or phrase that you repeat to yourself to focus your mind and energy. Your mantra should be personally meaningful to you and should be a phrase that you can believe. You can use a song title (Aretha Franklin’s “RESPECT” comes to mind), a line from a poem or anything that makes you feel powerful and confident. “You go, girl” is one of my personal favorites (accompanied by a mental fist in the air).

Once you have created a mantra, try it out in real-life situations. When you are getting ready to speak, listen for the Joy-Sucker and replace it with your mantra.

Remember that the Joy-Sucker has had years of practice, so it’s okay to try several mantras before you find one that is powerful enough to drown it out.

You’ll know the mantra is working when you feel your anxiety decreasing and your confidence increasing (a little bit at a time). As you build your confidence, you’ll be able to tap into your knowledge and experience related to the topic at hand – and you’ll be on your way to becoming a more polished public speaker!

(I’d love to hear your success stories. Once you’ve developed and tried out your mantra, email me and let me know how it works for you.) Gilda Bonanno is a speaker, trainer and coach who helps entrepreneurs, small business owners and corporate professionals improve their communication and presentation skills. Get a FREE Report “6 Mistakes to Avoid in Public Speaking” when you subscribe to Gilda’s e-newsletter. http://www.gildabonanno.com

Public Speaking: 3 Tips to Remove Workplace Fears

Fears at work are countless: Public Speaking, fear of conflict, fear of small cubicles, and fear of speaking up. Why are the phobias at work are endless? Why is it that Public Speaking is still on the top of the phobia lists? Wikipedia quotes fear of public speaking as stage fright affecting as much as 75% of the population.

Most careers require an adequate ability to present which is vital to continued success. Could Fear of Public Speaking actually be the fear of rejection? Fear of being seen as weak? Fear of being put on the spot? Since this topic continues to resonate, here are some tips to overcome these fears and anxieties:

PREPARE:

Proper preparation exudes confidence. Always use bullet points for your presentations. Memorizing speeches can result in freezing on stage. Use a format instead (e.g. opening/3 main points/closing) and you will know where you are during all stages of the talk. Following the format in your own words will make you sound conversational and relaxed. See yourself as the Expert. Know more about the subject than expected (have some reserve power for after your talk).

PUT YOUR AUDIENCE FIRST:

Be genuinely interested in your audience. How will the purpose of your talk benefit your audience? What are their needs? What steps in their lives should they take which will help them? Is there a dramatic effect on the audience if they take make these changes in their lives? Did you research their interests before going on stage? Do you have intriguing facts about that particular audience to capture their attention up front? As an audience member, we enjoy Speakers who smile, tell memorable stories, are passionate, and honestly care about us.

PRACTICE:

Practice in front of a mock audience (perhaps co-workers if they have a similar need). See if the stories work. See if the audience is engaged. Be open to implementing their feedback. Practice without coaching is like not practicing at all. Think of fluent speakers who had great impact. Chances are they took the above approach to overcome their fears to convey conviction and confidence.

Trina Paulus once said, ‘How does one become a butterfly? You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.” Take the opportunities to prepare, put your audience first, and practice, and you, too, will become the envy of others! Chime in at meetings when you normally wouln’t. Challenge yourself to be the first participant to chime in on teleconferences. Have you taken the opportunity to speak in the community lately? Remembe that old quote: “You miss 100% of the shots not taken.” How can we become proficient if we’re not consistently practicing?

Kerrie Espuga is Founder and Managing Director of Corporate Trendsetters, a NY professional training consulting company. Her expertise includes Public Speaking, Team Building, and Sales/Management Training. Kerrie has extensive experience in Corporate America at Fortune 500 companies, including facilitating/training, selling, and coaching/managing in the Pharmaceutical industry. She’s an exciting innovative Facilitator, who enjoys keeping groups engaged to enhance the learning!

Kerrie Espuga, Managing Director Corporate Trendsetters Training Consulting http://highpowerpres.com/Test/gen-step1.php Kerrie is Founder of Corporate Trendsetters, a NY professional training firm. Her expertise includes training individuals in Public Speaking and Sales/Management. Kerrie’s proven track record includes 16 years facilitating/training, selling, and managing at Fortune 500 companies, primarily in the Pharmaceutical industry.

There is a lot of information on the internet today about eliminating your nervousness in public speaking. I suggest learning how to control it instead, allowing your nervousness to work for you and not against you which can take your delivery to new heights.

What I offer is not a tip or a trick but the most important thing you can do when you stand to speak. It is something physical.

1. it is something we don’t do;

2. it is something we don’t know to do; and,

3. it is something we don’t know how to do (properly).

Now that I have you totally confused, bear with me. Once I tell what ‘it’ is, you might say rubbish; although, for those of you who have done presentations in the past, you possibly remember running out of ‘it’ while speaking!

I am talking about breathing, specifically breathing with the support of your diaphragm, a muscular partition below your rib cage which separates your chest from your abdomen. 99% of the population does not breathe with this support which is why we are often called lazy or shallow breathers. It is a medical fact.

There is one group of people in the world, however, who must breathe with this support — opera singers. That is why they are often called professional breathers.

There is another group of individuals, though, who also breathe with this support and they are called newborns. Every infant breathes with the support of the diaphragm, but as the child develops he/she tends to stop this practice and reverts to using only the upper portion of the chest to breathe.

All mammals have a diaphragm. All mammals breathe with the support of the diaphragm. It is only the most intelligent of the mammals who do not make use of this extraordinary muscle. If you do not believe me, go stand in front of a mirror and take a deep breath. Did you suck in your gut, lift up your shoulders and throw out your chest? If so, then you just did it wrong.

When I started my business back in 1989, I joined the local chamber of commerce. At a new member’s orientation, we had to stand and introduce ourselves. There had to be 150 people in that room and I knew no one. While sitting there waiting for my turn, it suddenly dawned on me that my introduction was my business. As one who teaches people how to improve the sound of the speaking voice, I realized that if I blew that introduction, I could kiss my business goodbye, at which point I began to sweat. My heart was beating with such fervor that I could feel it in my cheeks. Finally it was my turn. I stood; I took a breath; and, I proceeded to say who I was and what I did. I sounded calm, collected, in control. They had no idea that I was ‘dying a thousand deaths.’ And, I knew it worked because when I sat down, a gentlemen in the back said, “That’s the Voice Lady!”

[Incidentally, if you are a woman, do you find your shoulders, neck, upper back, and/or jaw sore by the end of the day? I do not. I have plenty of stress in my life but because I breathe properly, I never experience tension in those areas. Trust me -- it's all in the breathing!]

Shallow breathing results in oxygen starvation which means we are not eliminating enough of the carbon dioxide in our bodies, thereby a toxic buildup occurs. And, while this toxic buildup has many adverse effects, for the purposes of public speaking, it actually increases our tension, our stress. Think of the last time you gave a speech or a presentation. Did the pitch of your voice go up? Did you find yourself breathless? Did you start speaking faster and faster? These are all symptoms of nervousness exacerbated by poor breathing habits. So ask yourself this question.

Would you like to remain part of the 99%? Or, would you like to become part of that 1% who allow their breathing to control their nervousness as well as experiencing a host of other benefits that have nothing to do with the voice or presentation skills.

Take control of your nervousness and let it work for you, not against you! The Voice Lady Nancy DanielsVoicing It!, the only video training program on voice improvement and public speaking. Click here to watch Nancy describe The 5 Characteristics of Dynamic Public Speaking in her 8-minute video offers private, corporate and group sessions in voice and presentation skills as well as

If the idea of standing up in front of an audience and giving a speech (even a short speech) scares you to death, you’re not alone. In fact, most surveys will tell you that people are more comfortable with the idea of dying than they are about speaking in public.

However, there are plenty of things you can do to minimize the nervous feelings you have prior to giving an acceptance speech. Here are six sure-fire ways to reduce your anxiety and boost your confidence.

1. Put it on paper. Psychologists believe that writing your fears down on a piece of paper can be an empowering experience. If you’re nervous about speaking in front of a group, write it down, look at it, think about it, and then crumple it up and toss it in the trashcan.

2. Visit the venue. One of the best ways to calm your nerves and gain a feeling of confidence is to visit the room in which you’re going to give your speech beforehand and get comfortable being “on stage.” This is especially true if you’re presenting somewhere for the first time like a hotel meeting room or a banquet hall.

I recommend that you actually stand where you’ll be giving the speech and picture the audience sitting in front of you. Then get a feel for the lighting, the podium, the size and layout of the dais (stage), etc. This will go a long way to embolden you.

3. Be prepared. It is paramount that you know your speech like the back of your hand. You don’t necessarily have to memorize it (in fact, that’s not wise), however, you need to be familiar with the words you want to say.

Motivational speaking legend Zig Ziglar, after 40 years in the speaking business, once told a journalist that he prepared four hours for a 25-minute radio interview knowing full well that he was not going to be asked anything he had never heard before. Nothing goes further in soothing public speaking jitters like knowing exactly what you want to say and how you want to say it.

Be sure that you’re so comfortable with the first line of your speech that it just rolls off your tongue without even having to think.

4. Hold your breath. Here’s a breathing exercise you can do just prior to giving your acceptance speech that will help calm your nerves. Take a deep breath through your nose and hold it for 5 seconds. Then let your breath out of your mouth in short, controlled (quiet) spurts until all the air is out of your lungs.

To do it right, it should take about 10-15 “mini-exhales” to get all the air out. Then repeat this two more times. You’ll be amazed how relaxed it makes you feel.

5. Clench your fists. Another exercise similar to #4 above is to clench your fists several times right before you get up to speak. Here’s how you do it.

Clench both fists as tightly as you can, hold it for 10 seconds and then let go. Wait five seconds and than repeat this exercise two more times.

This simple technique has the power to release muscle tension and thereby help you relax. Plus, it’s something you can do sitting around the table waiting for your name to be announced.

6. Watch what you eat. Believe it or not, the foods you eat can affect the outcome of your speech starting with orange juice. (It’s not just for breakfast anymore.) The vitamin C found in orange juice has been shown to lower stress hormones in less than 15 minutes.

Plus, foods that contain high amounts of tryptophan like turkey, nuts and cheese contain an amino acid that helps people feel less anxious. If nature’s willing to give you a hand, grab hold of it.

Also, try to avoid caffeinated beverages because they can make you even more jumpy than the natural adrenaline rush you get from public speaking.

No matter what happens up at the podium, keep in mind that your audience cannot tell how nervous you are on the insides. In public speaking seminars when people have a chance to see themselves on video giving a speech, many are surprised to see that they do not appear nearly as nervous as they felt.

And unless you give your audience a reason to think otherwise, they will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume the best about you.

So, try out these nerve-reducing ideas and rise up to your audience’s hopeful expectations. Learn how to write an acceptance speech in less than 60 minutes and discover the secret to confidently delivering your speech from a St. Louis Public Speaking Training expert.

They say that man’s greatest fear is public speaking and that his second greatest fear is dying. According to Jerry Seinfield that means, “that most people at a funeral would rather be in the coffin than give the eulogy!”

To my knowledge no one has died from public speaking. Your hands may sweat, your voice may quiver, your heart may be pounding in your cheeks, and, you may have vomited before going on stage; but rest assured, public speaking will not kill you!

Are your fears of standing in front of an audience justified? If you’re not prepared, then you have every reason to be ‘scared to death.’

Part of the fear of addressing an audience is the unknown. For many of us that is what is so thrilling about public speaking; for most, however, that is what is so unsettling. Admittedly, you do not know what will happen as you stand at the lectern which is why your preparation is critical to your success.

Of the thousands of people with whom I’ve worked, it never ceases to amaze me how many come to their class, their session, or their workshop unprepared. A guarantee for failure on the podium or at the head of the boardroom table is not knowing your material.

What that means is to practice your speech or your presentation out loud many times. Reading over your material to yourself is not practice because the flow of your words, while understandable in written form, may not sound as good out loud. You must practice just like the musician, the actor, the athlete, or the presidential candidate.

In regards to public speaking, this is called a rehearsal. Too many people look to squeeze in a few minutes to go over their script and I disagree. You should set aside time each day to practice and stick to your schedule. No matter how tight your agenda, do not cancel your rehearsal. Treat it just as importantly as you would treat a meeting with your boss or a potential client because it is. Your success in that speech or that presentation speaks volumes about you and your abilities. One of your most important goals in public speaking is to sell yourself as an expert in your topic or your field. And that can only happen with practice.

If you have the ability to video-record yourself, by all means do so. In playing it back, analyze what you like about your delivery and what you don’t like. What needs work? Video-recording is one of the best tools that I use in training others. By watching yourself, it will be easier to improve that which needs work.

That does not mean that you must record yourself each time you practice; but, it also doesn’t mean waiting until the last moment either. How you look and sound to others is something you cannot appreciate until you see yourself on video and is similar to hearing your voice on your voicemail, generally not a pleasant experience! It also would be a good idea to have someone listen to you during a couple of those rehearsals if at all possible.

While you cannot know exactly what will happen during your speech or presentation, being prepared is the best defense for the unexpected and is part of every successful delivery.

My advice? Practice; practice; and more practice. The Voice Lady Nancy Daniels offers private, corporate, and group training in voice and presentation skills as well as Voicing It! the only video training course on voice improvement. For more information go to: http://www.voicedynamic.com/specialaccess1.htm

Does your voice ‘shake, rattle and roll’ when you stand to introduce yourself or address an audience at the lectern or the boardroom table? When I started my voice improvement business back in 1989, I joined the local chamber of commerce and attended a new members’ orientation. The room was large; there were about 150 attendees; and, the new members had to stand and introduce themselves.

At first I wasn’t concerned until it suddenly dawned on me that that personal introduction was my business. I realized that if I blew my intro I could kiss Voice Dynamic goodbye at which point I began to sweat. My heart was beating so loudly that I could feel it pounding in my cheeks and I was sure the gentleman on the other side of the table could hear it beating as well. I always experience nervousness in public speaking – which is a good thing – but never to this degree.

Finally, it was my turn. I stood; I took a breath; and I proceeded to introduce myself. I sounded calm, collected, confident. They had no idea that I was dying a thousands deaths!
 
What did I do that most people don’t? I took a breath. Not a huge breath – not a shallow breath – just a deep breath, a breath that went all the way down to my diaphragm. By breathing in this manner, I was totally relaxed from the waist up. (Yes, my knees were shaking but there was a tablecloth to hide that condition!)

As soon as I finished, a man in the back of the room shouted, “That’s The Voice Lady” and so began my career. I knew then that breathing with the support of the diaphragm was what allowed me to control my nervousness and not the other way around. And, it has stood me in good ground ever since.

There are many symptoms of nervousness in public speaking which unfortunately affect the voice and are a dead giveaway that the speaker is not in control: quivering voice; high-pitched tone; and 100 mph in a 65 mph speed zone.

All of these characteristics will go away if you can control your nervousness and allow it to work for you, not against you. I want you nervous. Nervousness is wonderful. Having no control over it, however, is not. My heart goes out to that speaker whose voice quivers because I understand what they are going through.

If you learn to breathe with support and allow your chest cavity to power your voice, you will then be able to control not only your nervousness but your speed as well. The quiver will be gone and your pitch will stay within range.

[Incidentally, all mammals breathe with the support of the diaphragm and as newborns we did as well; but, sometime during our childhood development, we stop that practice and revert to shallow or lazy breathing - it's a medical fact!]

Imagine, standing at the lectern or at the business lunch or at the head of the boardroom table and never letting them ‘hear’ you sweat.

The Voice Lady Nancy Daniels offers private, corporate and group session in voice and presentation skills as well as Voicing It!, the only video training program on voice improvement. For more information visit: http://www.voicedynamic.com/specialaccessvoice.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_J_Roberts

It is often observed that many people’s top ranking fear is not death but having to speak in public. The joke is that these people would rather be lying in the casket at the funeral than giving the eulogy. Public speaking for people who suffer from panic attacks or general anxiety often becomes a major source of worry weeks or even months before the speaking event is to occur.

These speaking engagements do not necessarily have to be the traditional “on a podium” events but can be as simple as an office meeting where the individual is expected to express an opinion or give verbal feedback. The fear of public speaking and panic attacks in this case centers on having an attack while speaking. The individual fears being incapacitated by the anxiety and hence unable to complete what he or she is saying. The person imagines fleeing the spotlight and having to make all kinds of excuses later for their undignified departure out the office window….

This differs slightly from the majority of people who fear public speaking because their fear tends to revolve around going blank while speaking or feeling uncomfortable under the spotlight of their peers. The jitters or nerves of speaking in public are of course a problem for this group as well, but they are unfamiliar with that debilitating threat which is the panic attack, as they most likely have not experienced one before.

So how should a person with an anxiety issue tackle public speaking?

Stage one is accepting that all these bizarre and quite frankly unnerving sensations are not going to go away overnight. In fact, you are not even going to concern yourself with getting rid of them for your next talk. When they arrive during a speech/meeting, you are going to approach them in a new manner. What we need to do is build your confidence back to where it used to be before any of these sensations ever occurred. This time you will approach it in a unique, empowering manner, allowing you to feel your confidence again. It is said that most of the top speakers are riddled with anxiety before speaking, but they somehow use this nervousness to enhance their speech. I am going to show you exactly how to do this, although I know that right now if you suffer from public speaking and panic attacks you may find it difficult to believe you can ever overcome it.

My first point is this and it is important. The average healthy person can experience an extreme array of anxiety and very uncomfortable sensations while giving a speech and is in no danger of ever losing control, or even appearing slightly anxious to the audience. No matter how tough it gets, you will always finish your piece, even if at the outset it feels very uncomfortable to go on. You will not become incapacitated in any way.

The real breakthrough for if you suffer from public speaking and panic attacks happens when you fully believe that you are not in danger and that the sensations will pass.

“I realize you (the anxiety) hold no threat over me.”

What keeps a panic attack coming again and again is the fear of the fear-the fear that the next one will really knock your socks off and you feel you were lucky to have made it past the last one unscathed. As they were so unnerving and scary, it is your confidence that has been damaged by previous anxiety episodes. Once you fully understand you are not under any threat, then you can have a new response to the anxiety as it arises while speaking.

Defeating public speaking and panic attacks…

There is always a turning point when a person moves from general anxiety into a panic attack, and that happens with public speaking when you think to yourself:

“I won’t be able to handle this in front of these people.”

That split second of self-doubt leads to a rush of adrenaline, and the extreme anxiety arrives in a wave like format. If, however, when you feel the initial anxiety and you react with confidence that this is not a threat to you, you will move out of the anxiety rapidly. Using this new approach is a powerful ally because it means it is okay to feel scared and feel the anxiety when speaking-that is fine; you are going to feel it and move with and through the sensations in your body and out the other side. Because he or she is feeling very anxious, often before the talk has begun, that person may feel they have already let themselves down. Now, you can relax on that point. It is perfectly natural to feel the anxiety. Take for example the worst of the sensations you have ever experienced in this situation-be it general unease to loss of breath. You will have an initial automatic reaction that says:

“Danger-I’m going to have an episode of anxiety here and I really can’t afford that to happen.”

At this point most people react to that idea and confirm it must be true because of all of the unusual feelings they are experiencing. This is where your thinking can lead you down a train of thought that creates a cycle of anxiety that produces a negative impact on your overall presenting skills.

So let that initial “oh dear, not now” thought pass by, and follow it up immediately with the attitude of:

“There you are-I’ve been wondering when you would arrive. I’ve been expecting you to show up-by the way, I am not in the least threatened by any of the strange sensations you are creating-I am completely safe here.”

The key to controlling your fear of public speaking and panic attacks is that instead of pushing the emotional energy and excitement down into your stomach, you are moving out through it. Your body is in a slightly excited state, exactly as it should be while giving a speech, so release that energy in your self-expression. Push it out through your presentation not down into your stomach. You push it out by expressing yourself more forcefully. In this way you turn the anxiety to your advantage by using it to deliver a speech where you come across more alive, energetic and in the present moment. When you notice the anxiety drop as it does when you willingly move into it. Fire a quick thought off when you get a momentary break (as I am sure you have between pieces), asking it for “more.” You want more of its intense feelings as you are interested in them and are absolutely not threatened by them.

It seems like a lot of things to be thinking about while talking to a group of people, but it is not really. You’d be amazed how many different non-related thoughts you can have while speaking. This approach is about adopting a new attitude of confidence to what you might have deemed a serious threat up until now. This tactic will truly help you with fear of public speaking and panic attacks you have associated with them.

If your predominant fear of the speaking engagement is driven by a feeling of being trapped, then I would suggest factoring in some mental releases that can be prepared before the event. For example, some meetings/speeches allow for you to turn the attention back to the room to get feedback etc. from the group.

If possible, you might want to prepare such opportunities in your own mind before the engagements. This is not to say you have to ever use them, but people in this situation often remark that just having small opportunities where attention can be diverted for the briefest of moments can make the task seem less daunting. It my even be something as simple as having people introduce themselves or opening the floor to questions. I realize these diversions are not always possible and depend on the situation, but anything you can factor in that makes you feel less trapped or under the spotlight is worth the effort and can help alleviate fear of public speaking and panic attacks. Darryl Paul is the author of this article and runs the blog http://panicaway-now.blogspot.com/

The thought of public speaking is something that is enough to make anyone get nervous. It is also called stage fright or speech anxiety – the anxiousness and fear that accompanies the negative thoughts one tends to have when faced with the prospect of speaking in public or in front of a large group of people.

Everybody can fall victim to speech anxiety: even celebrities and prominent people who are regularly under the spotlight sometimes still have the “butterflies in the stomach,” the sweaty palms, and the shaking knees that accompany the fear of public speaking. The possible causes of speech anxiety are numerous.

One could be previous failure in delivering a speech. The fear of repeated failure may cause an individual to develop an extreme fear to try again. On the other hand, inexperience, or never having given a public speech, results to an almost similar fear. Another common cause is shyness. The feeling of having all eyes focused on you at a particular time can cause much anxiety for a shy person who do not normally speak too much even in front of small groups. Some people just hate being the center of attention and the feeling of conspicuousness when speaking in public increases the level of anxiety and embarrassment one feels.

Another, and easier to resolve, cause of speech anxiety is lack of preparation. Without practice, the level of discomfort in speaking words that you don’t really know by heart is considerably larger. If you are not intimately acquainted with the content of your speech, if the words coming out of your mouth are not things that you actually have strong feelings for, chances are you will have the fear of being “found out.” The chances of being provoked into discussions you think you cannot have a strong opinion about and can defend increase the level of anxiety of many public speakers.

One of the first steps in overcoming speech anxiety is to identify your personal reasons on why you fear it so. Once you are aware of the cause, you can then work on finding solutions to your concerns. Whether you fear speaking in front of thousands or even in front of one other person, there are ways to manage your fear and improve your performance. From something as simple as practicing your spiels, making use of visualizations, or self-motivation to something like searching for professional help by taking up a skills training course, speech anxiety is not without “cure.”

These actions will help you develop strategies to overcome your fears or, if not, at least handle it in such a way that your anxiety will not be evident to your audience. There are several self-help books available that discuss tips and strategies to be better communicators.

Speech anxiety is a behavioral condition that is common to all humans. Different personalities may experience different levels of such an anxiety but the good news is that it can be overcome. With proper training and practice, anybody has the potential to be an excellent speaker. Bobby Dyland is a expert on anxiety and panic attacks who recently developed a free eCourse that lists a step by step process for understanding, controlling and finally beating anxiety.

If you are interested in learning more about his “Crushing Anxiety and Reclaiming your Life” eCourse and beating panic attacks once and for all, please go here: http://www.crushanxiety.com

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

I have just come across a couple of posts on the web that I think you will like to do with (i) public speaking fear and (ii) what to do when your presentation goes wrong.

The first is from Nick Morgan.

In Nick’s recent post he discusses public speaking fear , anxiety etc. In it he talks about the reasons that a persons fear of public speaking may have developed. But, more importantly he moves on to talk about what can be done to beat these nerves.

He identifies 3 basic categories you can work on;-

First, you can work on the speech itself

Second, you can work on your physical symptoms

Finally, you can work on your mind

You can find the details here:-

http://publicwords.typepad.com/nickmorgan/2010/06/does-public-speaking-terrify-you-heres-what-to-do-about-it.html

The next is by Thomas Walligum.

In Steve Jobs recent presentation to launch the next version of the iphone he ran into trouble with his presentation. Steve is recognized as one of the best presenters. By observing what he does we can all learn something that we can use in our nest presentation.

In this article Thomas outlines the situation and gives us the “takeaways” that we can use when the unexpected happens with  in our presentation. The article starts as follows:

Trouble can sneak up on the best presenters—just ask Steve Jobs about his Wi-Fi connection at Monday’s iPhone 4 announcement. But you can use strategies to mitigate PPT meltdowns and awkward silences, says presentation expert and The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs author Carmine Gallo. Here are his expert tips. Read the rest by clicking here:

http://www.cio.com/article/596271/How_Steve_Jobs_Beats_Presentation_Panic?page=1&taxonomyId=3000

Let me know what you think of these posts and if you have any of your own tips.