Many people have serious difficulties speaking in public , as they feel stage fright when speaking in front of an audience.

This type of anxiety can cause great discomfort, affecting their self-confidence and their perception of their own abilities. But not everyone feels bad about speaking in public. There are individuals who enjoy the attention and feel very comfortable communicating in front of a group of people. What do these people do to feel this good in a seemingly tense situation?

Tips for public speaking

If you are one of those people who find public speaking difficult, the tips below can help you feel more confident and leave behind your fears of speaking in front of an audience. You should know that the fear you feel is a normal response of your nervous system, and that learning to speak in public is possible with practice and a bit of courage.

1. Prepare well what you have to say

If you have to make a speech for your best friend’s wedding or you have to make a presentation for your final project, preparing well what you will say can help you gain confidence in yourself .

Therefore, research what you are going to say so that you can master the subject. Prepare your speech so that you have an idea of what you are going to say, and this will make it much easier for you to remember and express your ideas clearly and fluently.

2. Practice, rehearse as many times as necessary

But preparing what you will say in public may not make much sense if you don’t practice it . As well as organizing the information and structuring both on paper and mentally what you want to express, practicing it will be very useful in gaining peace of mind and confidence.

Of course, practice takes time, but every time you practice you will notice that you have improved. When you have to make that presentation or speech, everything will be more fluid and you will be more comfortable. If you want feedback , it is highly recommended that you practice in front of family or friends who can give you feedback . You can also videotape yourself to see how you do it. You may be surprised in a positive way.

3. Focus on breathing

Focusing on breathing is one of the most widely used techniques for reducing anxiety. Therefore, if you have mastery over your breathing, you may be able to control your timing better.

When you focus your attention on your breathing, your voice will sound better and you will be calmer. Breathe calmly and pay attention to the rhythm you impose when speaking .

4. Attend classes to learn public speaking

Public speaking training will help you become more aware of what you are doing right and wrong and what you can improve. Not only that, but you will discover what is the “art of public speaking” .

If you form yourself properly, you will master body language, know how to use your voice more efficiently and learn different techniques that will allow you to feel better and more confident when facing the audience.

5. Admit that you are nervous

One of the best ways to overcome the fear of public speaking is to admit it . It is normal to feel some tension when you have to speak in front of a group of people you don’t know.

But take the iron out of the matter and apply the above advice. Acceptance helps reduce anxiety and helps you to go easy on yourself. Don’t be such a perfectionist, give yourself time and don’t demand so much of yourself .

You may be interested in: “Perfectionist Personality: The Disadvantages of Perfectionism”

6. Mentally change your audience

People feel anxiety about how we evaluate the facts that happen to us . So if we take the presentation as something that life goes on, because we are evaluated by a group of experts and we put our final mark on the line, it is very likely that our anxiety will increase.

You may be able to convince yourself that your audience is just a group of students who are just as nervous as you are, or you may imagine that they are friends you haven’t seen for years . This way you won’t put extra pressure on yourself to speak in public.

7. Lean on visual aids

Imagine making a hard-working, eye-catching PowerPoint presentation or making it with notes given to each member of the audience.

This will make the audience less inclined to look at you and, moreover, will allow you to rely on these visual aids to guide you and take the pressure off you .

8. Think of it as a fun experience

To feel more comfortable speaking in public the first thing you have to do is change your attitude and turn fear into something stimulating , and if possible, even fun.

This is the most important advice, because if you are comfortable and take this experience as something fun, it is likely that the audience will connect with you. Fun engages . So if you can, bring out a little bit of your sense of humor. You’ll see how well it will be received.