If you get anxious when speaking in front of others, you’re in good company. Fear of public speaking is one of the most common fears in the world! Although becoming nervous before public speaking is perfectly natural, how you deal with those nerves can drastically impact the quality of your presentation. Learning to reduce your anxiety allows you to focus on your communication skills and deliver a dynamic, engaging presentation that leaves your audience wanting more.
Next time you need to speak in public, take a few minutes before your presentation and use these three strategies to help you reduce anxiety, conquer stage fright, and speak with confidence:
Stretch: Start with a full body stretch: Reach toward the ceiling with your spine fully elongated, engaging all of the muscles in your back. Then, stretch the muscles of your face and neck. Open your mouth as wide as you can and hold it for five seconds. Tip your head from side to side and forward and backward.
Warm up: Warm up your voice with some light humming and lip trills. Use your entire vocal range, starting from your lowest note, slowly working your way to your highest note, and then coming back down.
Shake it out: Literally shake out your jitters. Put your arms by your side, fully relaxed, and then shake your hands and arms for about five to ten seconds.
Breathe: Finally, right before you head onstage, take the time to take a few deep cleansing breaths. Breathe in through your nose for a count of three, and then out through your mouth for a count of five. Put everything else out of your mind while you breathe, and focus only on the flow of your breath.
If your communication skills are holding you back from professional success and you want to make your communication skills your most powerful professional tool, make sure to pick up a free copy of my e-book “Communicate with Clarity and Confidence!” by subscribing to our newsletter community on our website. In this free resource, I break down the myriad factors that contribute to confident communication and guide you through how to use each aspect to your advantage.
Give us a call and see how Corporate Speech Solutions can improve your professional life! Call us at 212-308-7725 or send us an e-mail at jayne@corporatespeechsolutions.com to learn more. I’d be more than happy to answer any questions you might have!