Overcoming Your Fear Of Public Speaking
Project managers face countless terrors every day. For instance, many leaders dread the thought of missing an important deadline or having to fire one of their employees. However, many of these fears pale in comparison to the anxiety that typically accompanies public speaking.
Everyone’s been asked to present in front of their colleagues at least once in their careers, and the experience is terrifying to some people. The idea of standing in front of a group and talking at length about one subject is quite difficult for many professionals to grasp.
As a manager, you’re going to have to speak in public frequently. Between staff meetings and client conferences, presenting will be one of your most important tasks.
Of course, this means that you have to get over your fears and stand confidently in front of your audience. Read on for a few tips that will help you combat anxiety and become a strong public speaker.
Breathe
Some speakers try to finish their speeches breathlessly in order to reduce the time that they have to stand in front of a group. In many cases, nerves come into play and leaders forget to breathe because they’re more focused on finishing than their actual words.
Keep a steady breathing pattern while you’re speaking because it will help you relax. Inhale and exhale just like you were talking to an associate in a one-on-one conversation. Additionally, regular breathing will keep your voice even so that your audience will be able to understand you.
