Many people find public speaking nerve-wracking. But why is that?
Janou: “Actually, we all experience some degree of stress when we have to speak in front of a group. This is perfectly normal. That stress comes from the fear of being judged. Thoughts like ‘What if I say something stupid?’, ‘What if I forget this or that?’ or ‘What if everyone sees how nervous I am?’ can be very disabling. Your body reacts to this physically with, say, a faster heart rate, clammy hands or a dry mouth. That makes it even harder to come across as calm and clear.”
What are common pitfalls for people who suffer from a fear of public speaking?
Janou: “There are three things we see often. The first is that people start talking too fast. They want to get it over with as quickly as possible, but this makes you run out of breath and harder to follow. Secondly, people often want to say everything perfectly, which actually makes you sound unnatural. And finally, they avoid contact with the audience: they just look at their slides or their notes, whereas really connecting can actually help you relax.”
Is there anything you can do about this fear of public speaking, or is getting stressed easily just bad luck?
Janou: “It will naturally be easier for some than it is for others. But make no mistake, even experienced speakers get nervous. The reason why they don’t freeze is because they know how to deal with those nerves. They have developed techniques to regulate stress and to recover if something goes wrong.”
So, you can learn to speak without being stressed?
Janou: “With the right techniques, you can at least make things much more comfortable for yourself. And besides, the more often you give a presentation, the more normal it will feel.”
Finally, do you have any tips for people who get very nervous when they have to give a presentation?
Janou: “Absolutely. There are plenty, but I’ll highlight the ones I think are the most important:
Tip 1: Focus on contact rather than perfection. Make eye contact, be curious about your audience, and let go of the idea of giving a flawless presentation.
Tip 2: Use your breathing as an anchor. Take calm breaths before you start and pause from time to time — this will give you and your audience a chance to breathe.
And finally, if you have to give regular presentations and you know this stresses you out, do yourself a favour and invest in a training course or workshop. It will cost a bit of money, but it will benefit you for the rest of your life!”
Do you also want to feel relaxed when speaking, regardless of the size of your audience? Then check out our ‘Relaxed public speaking’ workshop.
