Fear of public speaking is a real thing. It's actually called glossophobia or speech anxiety. Many people have glossophobia including possibly you. And you know what? That's okay. It's okay that you are afraid. Just know that there will be times when you will be asked to speak up in front of a group of people.
Have you spoken in front of others before? Think about it. How did you do? Did you survive? Are you alive? I sure would hope so considering you're reading this. I don't expect you to overcome your fear of public speaking overnight, but I do want to help you fight it over time. Here are some tips that can help you combat speech anxiety.
1. Relax - Seriously, just breathe. Take a deep breath before your speech. It's okay to be nervous and sweaty, but take some time to breathe and put reality back into place. Whatever you are speaking for or however long, it will not last forever. It could be a 5 minute presentation or a 60 minute presentation. Either way, it is not infinite. It will end. Breathe.
2. Body position - Try to keep your weight even. A lot of speakers will tend to lean on one leg or the other which applies pressure and can be stressful. It's okay to move a little while speaking. Find your space by extending your arms out. Try to stay in that amount of space when moving and avoid pacing back and forth.
3. Practice - Practice, practice, practice. This cannot be stressed enough! Most people feel that they are not good at speaking in front of others because they lack experience. Practice your speech or presentation by yourself, in front of a mirror, in front of a friend, in front of a family member, and then in front of a group. It sounds tedious, but like most things in life, you need to work hard to get the results you want.
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