G. Sumdany Don provides professional advice on how to conquer your public speaking phobias
Chief Inspirational Officer at
Don Sumdany Facilitation
& Consultancy
The concept that every eye in a room is paying attention to your every word and motion, makes public speaking one of the most dreaded activities in the world. Research indicates that one out of every three persons have anxiety or fear regarding public speaking. Whether it is pitching to clients, giving a good presentation, or simply speaking up in a meeting, most of us are petrified at the near thought of it. Our minds entertain the thoughts of being laughed at, ridiculed for pronunciation of a word, or forgetting our points. All these negative limiting beliefs make most people afraid of public speaking.
As a professional trainer, I believe that there are practical tips to help improve public speaking abilities and to overcome that fear.
Practice
The most effective way of improving public speaking or getting rid of the fear is to practice public speaking. In his book the “Outliers”, Malcolm Gladwell explains the 10,000 hours theory; the gist of the theory is that to achieve mastery in any art form is through practice. Public speaking is a form of art that requires polishing, nurturing and practice. Stand in front of the mirror and practice your speech followed by practicing your speech in front of few familiar faces. Take small steps and a small amount of time from your busy schedule to hone your speaking skills. This will allow you to slowly conquer your fear of speaking.
Get rid of the “What If” perception
Every fear we have is mostly the outcome of our thought process. Worrying is detrimental to our thinking process as it deviates from our ability to solve the actual problem. In regards to public speaking do not be bothered about the comments of others. Alternatively, use their remarks to polish and master your skill. Self-confidence is created through the ability of executing something, so take little steps that will help you to practice a little measure of public speaking and gradually build yourself as a better speaker.
Get into a community
If you look at renowned public speakers you will see most of them had a mentor they revered and followed. Due to the hectic nature of our live, the time for one on one mentoring is seldom convenient thanks to time constraints. However, there are various clubs and communities that help nurture the art of public speaking. For instance, Toastmasters International is an organization that provides a similar community and platform to practice communication skills. In our country there are various operating toastmasters clubs such as the Dhaka Toastmasters Club, Chittagong Toastmasters club, etc where young professionals can join and practice communication skills properly.
STL Method
(Speaking Through Listening)
Just think how all of us have learnt to speak during the initial stages of our lives. It was through listening to our parents, family and environment that we have acquired our linguistic capability. Similarly if you listen to great speeches and talks, your brain will be gradually condition itself to speak in that certain manner. You can pick your own favorite speaker and listen to them or you can go through the various TED Talks available online. I would personally advice you to listen to at least one TED talk of your choosing per day, it covers diversified topics and also has short durations to avoid boredom. This will provide you food for thought as well as polish your public speaking abilities.
These are the hands on practical tips that will gradually help you improve your public speaking skills. Implementing them in your life and working on them relentlessly will conquer the fear and upgrade your level from novice to master. The only aspect that should resonate when you are speaking is your confidence and potential.
