If the thought of addressing a large crowd of people makes you want to run away and hide, you’re not alone. Public speaking is widely thought to be the average person’s number one fear. Unfortunately, many high-level positions require proficiency in this skill. Luckily, it is very possible to overcome this fear by learning how the mind works and using this information to control your anxiety.

Start working to overcome your fear of public speaking, so you can stop avoiding all jobs that require you to address a group. Who knows, after working past your angst, you may even learn to enjoy speaking in front of a crowd.

3 Ways to Push Past Your Fear of Public Speaking

Finally ready to make your fear of public speaking a thing of the past? Follow these three tips to get comfortable in front of a group:

Envision a Perfect Delivery

Visualize yourself giving a dynamic speech to increase your chances of making it a reality. It’s difficult for the mind to separate fact from fiction, so it is actually possible to convince your mind that you’ve already given a successful speech. Concentrate really hard to picture explicit details of yourself giving the talk, including everything from the audience members’ reaction to nailing your final point. This exercise will help you feel more confident when you actually take the podium.

Stop Trying to Interpret Facial Expressions

You know you’re nervous, so it’s only natural to assume the audience is onto you as well, but here’s a secret — they have no clue. Try not to look too closely at the body language of audience members, because even the slightest hint that someone is unhappy will likely distract you. Instead, find a focal point in the back of the room to look towards, to help you avoid losing your focus.

Prepare for Uncertainty

There’s no way to control external factors that may impact your speech, but you can govern your reaction. Instead of allowing a technical glitch or a ringing cellphone throw you off-guard, assume that something of this nature will happen during your speech. When you expect the unexpected, you’re better able to embrace disruptions and overcome them. In most cases your speech will go off without a hitch, but it’s always wise to be prepared.

Need more hours in the day?

Partner with ECS for assistance in managing your temporary workforce. We have more than 20 years of experience helping staffing firms provide temporary employees to their clients and assisting employers in streamlining their contract workers.