You feel the call, the pull. You know it’s time to step up and be a leader in your business and industry. And deep down you know the way to do that is to get yourself out there and start speaking to people, but the thought makes you want to puke! In fact, you’d actually prefer puking to presenting.
I get it. I can relate. The thing is, you can run and you can hide, but eventually you are going to have to be seen if you want your business to grow. Being visible and vulnerable doesn’t have to be a frightening experience. You can be a fearless public speaker.
(Okay, truth be told, you’re likely going to feel some fear, but you’re going to do it anyway and be okay. Promise.)
First of all, who said fear was a bad thing? Who said everything has to feel comfortable and safe?
Get that notion out of your head! The only way we learn and grow - and hence, become better individuals and business owners - is when we stretch, flex, and push ourselves.
I love comparing personal growth to exercise. When we work our bodies, we’re prepared to feel a certain way, right? We squat and expect our buns to burn. We do cardio and expect our heart rate to increase, lungs to work harder, and pores to sweat. And when we stretch, we’re ready for it to hurt so good!
We do those things in an effort to be healthier, leaner, stronger, more flexible, etc. in the long run.
Well, when you work your public speaking muscle, not only will you become better and stronger, but your business will too.
You may not rid yourself of all fear when it comes to public speaking, but you can ease your suffering. ;) Here are a few quick ways to do that.
Deflate Your Ego. Your talk has nothing to do with you, so don’t take any of it personally. People have willingly shown up to listen and learn. You’re simply sharing information that people want and need to hear. How great is that? No pressure!
The Audience is Your Friend. Instead of feeling horrified and focusing on all the potential negative things that could happen, assume positive intent from your audience. Again, they are there because they want to be. Your job is simply to share your story and impart your knowledge.
PS: If a person is going to strike you down because you made a human error that doesn’t affect the content of your talk, like muttering a few “umms”, they are not your friend and they don’t matter.
Be Yourself. Why is it that if you are talking to a friend you feel calm and confident and yet when we go into “presentation mode”, we think we have to be someone other than ourselves??
Think about who you’re drawn to in daily conversation. Is it somebody reading off a script sounding mechanical and rehearsed or a person who’s relaxed and natural?
We embrace and engage with speakers who connect with us as fellow human beings.
We also like it when we can feel their energy and passion. Since you’re speaking about something you care about, your positive energy should radiate!
Stop caring. It’s not that you don’t care enough to prepare, but you put it all into perspective. Stop taking yourself so seriously and see this talk as part of the big picture. Your time speaking is a mere blip on the radar of your day and week, let alone your year and life. So, try to relax!
Practice Makes Perfect. Okay, so there’s no such thing as perfection, but you can certainly ease any anxiety when you prepare and practice.
Switch roles and ask yourself how you’d like to receive this information if you were the audience - what’s the most effective way of making your point? Outline your information. Then stand up in front of your mirror and talk.
You can even record your takes using a voice memo app on your phone. You’ll be able to hear what worked and what didn’t and you’ll get better with each dry run.
PS: This is not the time to criticize yourself because you don’t like the way you sound…remember – it’s not about you!
Build Your Confidence. Don’t be afraid or feel silly to psych yourself up! If you’re nervous, know that’s natural. Even people who’ve been speaking in front of audiences (large and small) for years get anxious.
Remind yourself that you know what you’re talking about, you’re there to share and care about the audience, and then tell yourself it’s going to be a great experience. Encourage yourself - often. The more you expect a great outcome and dwell in positive feelings, the more at ease you will feel.
While you may not remove all fear, you now know how to control it. Yes, your feelings are like marionettes and you are the puppet master, my friend!
So, embrace the emotions and make them work in your favor! You’re going to rock your audiences’ world; I know it. And you will see more opportunity and growth in your business when you really turn pro and put yourself out there. You’ve got this!
Check out the audio version of Amy's tips by clicking here.
The Queen Bee NYC
Happiness Advocate & Personal Growth Igniter
Bee Yourself. Create Buzz.™
http://www.thequeenbeenyc.com
Inspiration, Guidance, and Motivation to help you transform into your best self.
Life's too short to "bee" anything but energized and fulfilled!
