According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the fear of public speaking is common in about 73% of the population. But not to worry, the greatest public speakers across history at some point were afraid of public speaking. Nobody was born a public speaker. It is an acquired skill. You have the potential to become a great public speaker. Fear may be the only thing stopping you from fulfilling your destiny. Let’s deal with that fear and unleash the speaker in you.

1) Believe in Yourself – Roy T. Bennet put it well when he said, “Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you imagine.”

2) It’s Not About You – It’s about your audience. If you focus on what you can share with your audience that will make their lives better, then you are not worried about making a mistake or if they will like you. You were given a message and your responsibility is to make it your mission to find those who are hoping for a message like yours.

3) Turn Your Fear into Excitement – When we are afraid or excited, our hearts beat faster and there is a strange feeling in our stomach. The feeling we have when we are afraid or excited is the same. It is how we interpret the situation that is different. Tell yourself that you are excited, because you have the privilege of changing someone’s life for the better when you get up on stage.

4) Be Yourself – “You are obligated to understand that you are unique in the world. There has never been anyone like you, because if there were, there would be no need for you to exist. You are an utterly new thing in creation. Your life goal is to realize this uniqueness.” – Aaron Perlow. You were made for such a time as this.

5) Realize That Your Audience Is Routing for You – It’s important for you to know in your heart that your audience wants you to succeed. If they can see that you are sincere and that you want to give them content that will improve their lives, then they will cheer you on.

6) Mistakes Will Happen – You are human. Everybody makes mistakes. Do not beat yourself up. Learn from your mistakes and move on.

In part two, we will explore more tips to overcome a fear of public speaking. If you have found a tip that has helped you overcome your fears around speaking, please share them.

Having a safe, supportive community of caring people, who want you to succeed is what Engaging Speakers is all about. Learn more at https://engagingspeakers.com/

Gail Brown, Founder of Engaging Speakers, gail@engagingspeakers.com