Actually, I think I got used to that feeling when it’s my turn to speak in front of people. What about You?
One of the situations that I full bloom remember and still share until today, was when I had to teach at a recognized capital city academy through the company where I worked.
The class went from 8.30am to 11 hours. I had everything soon, the materials, the computer, I had already contacted the academy team to coordinate work tools such as projector, whiteboard, drafts, student list, etc. It was all in order. It was only necessary to go live with the class.
I arrived, checked the students list and began with the presentation; by 9am I had finished presenting. Yes, I spoke very fast (so they wouldn’t ask me much), almost without breathing. When I looked at the board and saw that the slide showed: “Thank you very much,” I panicked. How could it be? If I had planned a two hour thirty minute class. At that time I had no choice but to improvise, especially because there were more than 15 students looking at me.
I decided to continue with the program, that meant to go on with the program second class, and somehow incorporate the concepts that I worked quickly in the first half hour. Luckily, I remember that the 11 hours arrived, the students left and I could sit down to breathe, drink water and loosen my arms; I didn’t move my arms and my shirt was sweaty from the nerves that had passed.
That class was a before and after regarding public speaking for me for several reasons: I had to continue teaching, I couldn’t continue to expose myself to scenic panic, my training and life project were leading me to speak in public frequently and I had to make friends with that situation.
Looking for public speaking information was the resource that i found and put it into practice when necessary. It may sound cliché, but the secret is that there is no secret: public speaking fear, its only cured by speaking publicly.
Who did not feel shame, circumstantial forgetfulness, stress? Public speaking generates all that and even some people somatize to the point that they end up throwing up and feeling stomach aches.
What we don’t contemplate in public speaking, is that we are the ones who have the situation reins and that we can take that instance forward comfortably by applying some changes in our behavior when facing those instances; In addition, the public is also panicking that we’ll ask questions that they can’t answer or generate scenarios of exposure to ridicule.
These are the changes that I applied and still use today to avoid nerves; I share them as #growingtips that can be helpful to you:
#growingtip 1 – Breathe! Yes, inhale, exhale! No one forces you to do a running talk. Taking a breath before and during your exhibition will be a great collaboration to relax.
#growingtip 2 – Stimulate public participation. This makes your presentation more dynamic through questions, ask them to raise their hands to answer. Interact!
#growingtip 3 – If you’re wrong, it’s not the end of the world. You can begin from the error and continue talking: if you forgot what you were saying, if your tongue is locked, if the concepts got tangled up, the public can help you. Failure is part of improving.
#growingtip 4 – Organize your speech! What will you say? What do you mean? How do you want to say it? Planning a conductive thread for your exhibition will prevent the nerves from making you forget the content or beat around the bush.
#growingtip 5 – Last but not least, trust yourself! Yes, yourself! There will be people in the public who will accompany you with eyes and gestures, and there will always be a friendly face that will generate calm and confidence to follow.
The next time you have to speak in public, remember that you are doing well and if not, you can always improve!
Source: Article inspired by infographics taken from: http://www.gestorestalentohumano.com/
Image source: https://bit.ly/2lPvu0C