More Americans are terrified of public speaking than are afraid of earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, blizzards, loneliness, dying, theft, volcanoes, aging, needles, mass shootings, kidnappings and ghosts.
"Glossophobia," the medical term for stage fright, makes 28.4 percent of the adults in the U.S. either afraid or very afraid, according to The Chapman University Survey of American Fears. Meanwhile, volcanoes scare 19.7 percent of American adults and 8.5 percent of adults are afraid of zombies, according to the report.
Despite the fact that public speaking often induces terror, it's a vital skill for potential entrepreneurs and business owners who must be able to have to get up in front of a crowd to make a pitch, present an idea, or close a deal.
Here are 13 great secrets from professional speakers, experts, and coaches to help you overcome stage fright and give an ace presentation.
1. Speak from the heart
Despite the fact that public speaking often induces terror, it's a vital skill for potential entrepreneurs and business owners who must be able to have to get up in front of a crowd to make a pitch, present an idea, or close a deal.
Here are 13 great secrets from professional speakers, experts, and coaches to help you overcome stage fright and give an ace presentation.
1. Speak from the heart
Talk about your own experiences. "Telling personal, true stories is the best way to impart information and inspire others. And it is easy to remember our own stories!" says Gary Schmidt, Past International President of Toastmasters International, a nonprofit organization that helps members improve their public speaking skills.
Source: Gary Schmidt
Gary Schmidt
And avoid overly complicated language. It loses the audience. "You don't need jargon to sound like you know what you're talking about; bring in your own personal stories and experiences to build a persuasive case for why you are passionate about what you do. Your enthusiasm is your best sales tool," says Allison Shapira, founder and CEO of Global Public Speaking.
2. Picture yourself as a winner
Gary Schmidt
And avoid overly complicated language. It loses the audience. "You don't need jargon to sound like you know what you're talking about; bring in your own personal stories and experiences to build a persuasive case for why you are passionate about what you do. Your enthusiasm is your best sales tool," says Allison Shapira, founder and CEO of Global Public Speaking.
2. Picture yourself as a winner
"There are many who prepare mentally minutes before speaking or maybe on the same day. One of the strongest factors is to prepare mentally from the instant that a speaking engagement is confirmed," says Mohammed Murad, Past International President of Toastmasters. "Visualizing the venue and audience contributes greatly to the build up of confidence."
3. Breathe
3. Breathe
Being aware of your breath gives you control of your nerves. "Deep breathing before and during your presentation or pitch calms your nerves and adds power and strength to your voice," says Shapira, who has been a Harvard lecturer, opera singer and TEDx speaker and has launched her own communication consulting firm. "Deep breathing also keeps your voice centered and prevents dangerous uptalk which undermines your credibility and confidence."
Source: David Hume Kennerly
Allison Shapira
Rochelle Rice, an accredited Toastmasters International speaker, recommends standing with your feet in a wide parallel stance and your arms up before speaking in front of a crowd and then taking five deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. It's also helpful to lift your right arm up and stretch to the right and vice versa, she says. "Lower your arms, bring your legs together and feel the sensation of the breath and the circulation in your body," she says.
4. Ditch the power point
Allison Shapira
Rochelle Rice, an accredited Toastmasters International speaker, recommends standing with your feet in a wide parallel stance and your arms up before speaking in front of a crowd and then taking five deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. It's also helpful to lift your right arm up and stretch to the right and vice versa, she says. "Lower your arms, bring your legs together and feel the sensation of the breath and the circulation in your body," she says.
4. Ditch the power point
Powerpoint is a gentle lullaby to your audience. "People will invest in you because of your energy, confidence, and enthusiasm, not because of your slides," says Shapira. "Make you and your business the focus of your presentation instead of spending hours on the perfect pitch deck."
5. Don’t practice in your PJs
5. Don’t practice in your PJs
Simulate the experience of speaking to an audience in your rehearsals, says Sims Wyeth, an executive coach, business writer, author, and speaker. Wyeth started his career as an actor and has previously taught theater, and voice & speech at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, the Michael Chekhov Studio, the Actors' and Directors' Lab, and the University of New Orleans.
"Be well rehearsed, which means you should rehearse under performance-like pressure," says Wyeth. "Rehearsal is the work, performance is the play, and rehearsing under performance-like pressure acclimates you to the demands of public speaking."
"Be well rehearsed, which means you should rehearse under performance-like pressure," says Wyeth. "Rehearsal is the work, performance is the play, and rehearsing under performance-like pressure acclimates you to the demands of public speaking."
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