How to Speak with Poise and Confidence

Five Steps to Minimizing the Fear of Speaking

Have you been asked to speak-in front of people! A speech? Yikes! For those who prefer the anonymity of staying behind the scenes, speaking may loom as a frightening cliff, but it doesn't have to be. You don't have to jump off that speaking-in-public cliff, at least not without a parachute. You can speak if you break down what this entails and look at speaking as you do your job, school or your volunteer work.

First of all, change your focus. Fear emanates from focusing on your self and concentrating on all the things that might go wrong during your speech. Before or while speaking questions can paralyze. Do I look ok? Am I dressed correctly for this audience? Will I freeze up or forget what I have to say? Is my speech good? Will I trip if I move around? Will I speak, or am I speaking, too softly or too loudly? Will they like me?

Stop focusing on yourself or what might go wrong. Take a deep breath. Look upward (a little prayer never hurts) and acknowledge your talents and abilities. You can do this speech. Someone thought you capable of speaking or they wouldn't have asked.

Look outward. Focus on the audience that wants to glean the secrets of your success. You were asked to speak for a reason and the audience wants to like you, wants to listen to you, and wants to give you a chance. If you make an obvious mistake, acknowledge it, recognizing those in your audience have probably done something similar. Those in the audience often listen more closely to your speech when they realize you aren't perfect, yet have something to share, which is why you are speaking and not one of them.