How to overcome nerves when speaking in public

How do I overcome nerves when public speaking?

What can I do to stop freezing on stage?

How can I prevent my mind just going blank?

The three biggest questions posed to our Pink Elephant Communication trainers on a daily basis.

Because they are the three questions that haunt people who need to speak to audiences.

Let’s address these questions one by one and provide you with usimple solutions.

First, watch this video of when my wife and I spoke in front of 16,000 people at a conference in 2016.

How do I overcome nerves when speaking in public?

You need to manage nerves – rather than overcome them.

Years into my career as a TV presenter and even now I still feel nervous at times.

So I need techniques to keep them under control.

First of which is – concentrate on the delivery rather than the occasion.

When we do this, we put our effort into getting the message across with passion and enthusiasm.

Rather than worrying about the event, the reaction and what could go wrong.

For a more in-depth look at public speaking techniques, read this.

Want to be effective at work by overcoming your fear of public speaking?

Our public speaking courses will do that, contact us today. 

What can I do to stop freezing on stage?

Our brain does a great job of running our body and mind 24/7.

When we’re talking, when we’re driving, when we’re sleeping.

But it has to be left alone to get on with the job – rather than interfered with.

So we need to let our subconscious brain take over from our conscious brain.

Because it’s the subconscious brain that keeps us alive by automatically breathing for us.

So trust your brain – and create a list.

A list of all the things you want to say – in the order you want to say them.

It should look like a shopping list – with simple headings rather than complicated paragraphs.

Then you simply have to deliver them – one by one.

Write them in a sequence that follows a golden thread. 

Take the audience in an ordered way through your points.

To help you structure your presentations and understand this technique more clearly read this.

Need to quickly stop freezing on stage and speak with confidence in public?

A public speaking course will deliver the results you need. 

How can I prevent my mind just going blank?

Well, first I want you to answer this question;

Has your mind ever gone blank?

I mean literally blank?

The answer is no.

It may feel that way when panic sets in but it’s only a feeling.

What causes it is two things – a sense of time standing still and catastrophic thinking.

Time appears to stand still because we think four times quicker than we talk.

So a one-second pause in your delivery feels like four – and a three-second pause feels like 12.

You need to manage that – by pausing with purpose, to let the audience digest what you’ve said.

Avoid filling the space with an “em” or “er” – because that only emphasises hesitancy.

Catastrophic thinking happens when our mind races ahead to predict catastrophe.

“I’ve paused…”

“they’ll think I’ve frozen…”

“they’ll think I’m useless…”

“I’ll get fired…”

Instead, use the pause to take a deep breath.

Glance down at your notes.

Let the audience digest what you’ve just said.

Start down the right path.

And pick up your Golden Thread.

Want to truly overcome your fear of public speaking?

Learn about our public speaking courses and contact us today. 

8 Simple steps to overcome your fear of public speaking

The next time you feel the fear of public speaking, use the advice in this blog;

1. Concentrate on the delivery rather than the occasion
2. Create a list of all the things you want to say – in the order you want to say them
3. Pause with purpose

We’ve been running seminars across the world for 30 years – explaining these principles to our clients.

Regardless the country or continent – people have the same basic fears about public speaking.

Once you understand them, you master them.

Gain understanding and overcome your nerves when public speaking, follow these 8 simple steps.  

Bill McFarlan is Chairman of  Pink Elephant Communications in Glasgow. 

See his full profile here.

Photo credit// Photo by Victor Rodvang on Unsplash // youtube.com // Photo by Hector Bermudez on Unsplash