A Professional Public Speakers says a Fear of Public Speaking is Different to Nerves
Apr 18th, 2008 by Pete Miller
I am a professional public speaking coach and I still get nervous before public speaking but it is totally different to a fear of public speaking. People sometimes confuse nerves as a fear of public speaking and think being nervous is bad thing but I think nerves are good.
When you have an interview or go on a date you are nervous and that is to be expected. You are nervous as there is a lot at stake and public speaking is no different.
The thing that you should be nervous about is wasting the audiences time. This is the biggest crime you can commit to another person is to waste their time. A public speaker has got a responsibility. If there is ten people in the audience and you are on the stage for an hour, then that’s ten hours you are responsible plus your own. If it’s a hundred people, it’s a hundred hours and so on. The people in the room won’t get that time back so there is a lot riding on you.
A speakers only concern should be the audience. It is not about me when I am speaking it is about the audience I am delivering the speech to. To overcome the nerves this is what you should be focusing on. Most of the people I work with quickly get over their nerves when they start to concentrate on the audience.
All these nerves are caused by you putting expectations on yourself. Try putting the expectations on what you are delivering to the audience. This will help you concentrate on what we are delivering.
I always tell my clients that I coach on public speaking that it is self-indulgent to worry about their own nerves when they are delivering to 100 or so people. I think this is a really important public speaking tip. Let go of any perceptions that you have on nerves or the fear of public speaking and just concentrate on your audience.
Pete,
I like your differentiation between fear of public speaking and nerves.
On thing I would mention here is that it is crucial not to forget to breathe deeply! Not breathing deeply exacerbates any feeling of nervousness you may have. Also, your brain demands a fresh supply of oxygen. If you are not breathing properly, you are not thinking properly.
Before a presentation, try practicing these breathing exercises:
1. Inhale slowly with your mouth closed on a measured four count.
2. Exhale slowly with your mouth closed on a measured four count.
3. Then slow it down even further to a 6, 8, or 10 count.
This will help to calm your entire nervous system and will slow your heart rate. You will feel much calmer, your thinking will be much more lucid, and you will be able to communicate your ideas much more clearly in moments of stress.
Thanks for the post!
Terry
hey,
i would like to add something as public speaking coach that feeling nervous is something very natural ,and actually no one can overcome it.so the only alternate is to learn how to deal with it.
thanks