Fear of public speaking is one of the most prevalent fears around, and although people are not afraid to admit it, your average person will choose to run from it rather than face it. If you are reading this, you are already a cut above the rest, and probably just need a little bit more convincing for you to push yourself up the stage. It is an unnecessary suffering to endure.

Overcoming your fear is not just about giving a good speech, it demonstrates in full the fortitude of the human spirit in triumph.

Speech fear manifests itself in many forms, ranging from

1. Slight anxiety

2. Slurring of speech,

3. Panic.

4. Shivering

5. Excessive sweating

6. Unease in the stomach

If all these are stopping you to give your best when you should have, whether it is to your boss, with your colleagues, at a party, or at a speaker's club, it's about time you decide to take some action. There are two ways to do so,

1. Physical preparation

2. Mental training

Physical preparation includes what you do prior to the speech. In order to be confident, you need to know thoroughly what you are delivering. Know your audience, know what they want, and give it to them. You have to practice and practice to perfect it, your toning, your voice projection, your content, your pauses, eye contact are all bits and pieces that will maximize your confidence. When you are prepared for it, you will defeat the fear.

Mental training involves certain techniques that convince yourself the fear is irrational. Progressive Muscle Relaxation works to assist your mind in calming down during tension, and psychological cognitive restructuring replaces your deep fear with positive thoughts.

If you are still hesitating, thinking that this is an effort not worth it, think again. Somewhere down the road, you will have to speak up, for yourself, for your family or for your company. You will be the one wanting to speak, and at that point of time, when the same fear no longer shrouds you as it does now, go forth and unleash the best in you.

Good luck,

MJ