How To Conquer Public Speaking Fear

Public speaking is a common source of stress for everyone. Many of us would

like to avoid this problem entirely, but this is hard to do. Whether we

work alone or with large numbers of people, eventually we will need to

speak in public to get certain tasks accomplished. And if we want to be

leaders or achieve anything meaningful in our lives, we will often need

to speak to groups, large and small, to be successful.

The truth about public speaking, however, is IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE

STRESSFUL! If you correctly understand the hidden causes of public

speaking stress, and if you keep just a few key principles in mind,

speaking in public will soon become an invigorating and satisfying

experience for you.

Purpose Of This Report

The purpose of this Special Report is to help you overcome the fear of

public speaking. It begins by discussing ten key principles to always keep

in mind. If you approach any problem in life with the right starting

principles, everything else will fall into place. On the other hand, if

you start with the wrong guiding principles, you can try all you want,

but there is little chance you'll improve.

This Report also reveals eleven "hidden" causes of public speaking stress.

I have summarized these eleven causes, along with the ten key principles,

at the end of this Report, so you can easily review them.

Key Principles

Principle #1--Speaking in Public is NOT Inherently Stressful

Most of us believe parts of life are inherently stressful. In fact, most

of us have been taught to believe that life as a whole is very stressful!

To deal with any type of stress effectively, you first must understand

that life itself, including public speaking, is NOT inherently stressful.

Thousands of human beings have learned to speak in front of groups with

little or no stress at all. Many of these people were initially terrified

to speak in public. Their knees would shake, their voices would tremble,

their thoughts would become jumbled . . . you know the rest. Yet they

learned to eliminate their fear of public speaking completely.

You are no more or less human than they are. If they can conquer the fear

of public speaking, so can you! It just takes the right guiding principles,

the right understanding, and the right plan of action to make this goal

a reality.

Believe me, it's not difficult. I'm a good example of someone who conquered

the fear of public speaking. And while I didn't do it overnight, it wasn't

difficult. All it took was approaching the problem in the right way.

Principle #2--You Don't have to be Brilliant or Perfect to Succeed

Many of us have observed public speakers and thought to ourselves "Wow,

I could never be that smart, calm, witty, entertaining, polished . . .

or whatever." Well, I've got news for you-- you don't have to be brilliant,

witty, or perfect to succeed. That is not what public speaking is all about.

I know it may look that way, but it's not. You can be average. You can

be below average. You can make mistakes, get tongue-tied, or forget whole

segments of your talk. You can even tell no jokes at all and still be

successful.

It all depends on how you, and your audience, define "success." Believe

me, your audience doesn't expect perfection. I used to think most

audiences did, but I was wrong! Before I discovered this, I used to put

incredible pressure on myself to deliver a perfect performance. I worked

for days to prepare a talk. I stayed up nights worrying about making

mistakes. I spent hours and hours rehearsing what I was going to say. And

you know what? All this did was make me even more anxious! The more perfect

I tried to be, the worse I did! It was all very disheartening (not to

mention unnecessary).

The essence of public speaking is this: give your audience something of

value. That's all there is to it. If people in your audience walk away

with something (anything) of value, they will consider you a success. If

they walk away feeling better about themselves, feeling better about some

job they have to do, they will consider you a success. If they walk away

feeling happy or entertained, they will consider their time with you

worthwhile.

Even if you pass out, get tongue-tied, or say something stupid during your

talk . . . they won't care! As long as they get something of value, they

will be thankful.

They don't even need to feel good to consider you a success. If you

criticize people, or if you stir them up to ultimately benefit them, they

might still appreciate you, even though you didn't make them feel good

at the time.

Principle #3--All You Need is Two or Three Main Points

You don't have to deliver mountains of facts or details to give your

audience what they truly want. Many studies have shown that people

remember very few of the facts or information speakers convey. While you

may choose to include lots of facts and information, you only need to make

two or three main points to have your talk be successful. You can even

have your whole talk be about only one key point, if you wish.

When I first began speaking in public during medical school (kicking,

screaming, and quivering all the way), I wasn't aware of this simple

principle. I wrongly believed that my audience wanted encyclopedic

knowledge from me, which of course I didn't have. So I tried to research

my topic thoroughly and deliver as much worldly wisdom as possible.

Boy was that exhausting! It was also boring for my audience to suffer

through.

Later, when I began giving public seminars on how to cope with stress,

I spent hours each week typing a twenty-page script to read from, so I

wouldn't forget any important tidbit.

As time went on, I gradually learned that this degree of complexity wasn't

needed. As a result, the length of my discussion notes gradually declined.

My twenty-page typed manuscript gave way to a five-page detailed outline.

Then, I replaced my outline with ten or fifteen index cards. Eventually,

I could conduct a full two-hour seminar with only one 3X5 index card

(containing my two or three key points) to support me!

As long as I focused on these two or three key points, I was able to speak

at length about them by naturally drawing upon my past experiences and

knowledge.

Remember, all your audience wants from you is to walk away with one or

two key points that will make a difference to them. If you structure your

talks to deliver this result, you can avoid lots of complexity that isn't

really needed. This also should make your job as a speaker much easier,

and more fun too!

Principle #4--You also Need a Purpose That is Right for the Task

This principle is very important . . . so please listen up. One big mistake

people make when they speak in public is they have the wrong purpose in

mind. Often, they have no specific purpose in mind, but the one that is

operating within them unconsciously causes a whole lot of unnecessary

stress and anxiety.

This is a prime example of what I call a "hidden cause" of public speaking

stress. When I first started speaking in public, I thought my purpose was

to get everyone in the audience to approve of me. I mistakenly thought

that this was what good public speakers try to do. I wasn't consciously

aware of this purpose, nor how foolish it was, but it was there

nonetheless.

Because of this hidden purpose, I felt I needed to be absolutely perfect

and brilliant to win my audience's unanimous approval. If just one person

in the audience disapproved . . . my goose was cooked! If one person left

early, if anyone fell asleep, or if someone looked uninterested in what

I was saying . . . I was defeated!

This was very anxiety-producing.

Later, after I became aware of this stress-producing purpose, I was able

to look at it honestly and realize how foolish it was. How many public

speakers get 100% approval from their audiences? The answer is zero!

The truth about public speaking is no matter how good a job you do . . .

someone is going to disapprove of either you or your argument. That is

just human nature. In a large group of people, there will always be a

diversity of opinions, judgements, and reactions. Some will be positive,

others will be negative.

There is no rhyme or reason to it. If you do a lousy job, some people will

sympathize with you and feel for you, while others will critique you

harshly. If you do a fantastic job, someone will resent your ability and

might disapprove of you on that basis alone. Some people will leave early

because of an emergency. Some will fall asleep because they were up all

night taking care of a sick child. Therefore, it's foolish and unrealistic

to attempt to get everyone in your audience to think well of you.

More importantly, it's the wrong type of purpose to adopt in the first

place.

Remember, the essence of public speaking is to give your audience

something of value. The operative word here is GIVE not GET! The purpose

of public speaking is not for you to get something (approval, fame, respect,

sales, clients, etc.) from your audience. It is to give something useful

to your audience.

Yes, if you do this well, you'll gain notoriety, respect, sales, and new

clients. But this should never be your organizing purpose going in. If

you focus on giving as much as you can to your audience, you will then

be aligned with the truth about public speaking. You also will avoid one

of the biggest pitfalls that cause people to experience public speaking

anxiety.

Giving of yourself is rarely stressful or anxiety producing. When I give

a talk to a group of people, I often imagine myself handing out $1,000

bills to everyone in the audience. I try to give them at least that much

value. If a few individuals in the group reject this "gift," it no longer

surprises or demoralizes me. I no longer expect anything different.

Principle #5--The Best Way to Succeed is Not to consider Yourself a Public

Speaker!

While it may seem paradoxical, the best way to succeed as a public speaker

is not to consider yourself a public speaker at all.

Many of us have distorted, exaggerated views of what successful public

speakers do. We often assume that to be successful ourselves, we must

strive very hard to bring forth certain idealistic qualities we presently

lack.

Consequently, we struggle desperately to emulate those personal

characteristics of other speakers which we wrongly believe are

responsible for their public speaking success.

In other words, we try to become someone other than ourselves! We try to

be a public speaker, whatever that image means to us.

The truth about public speaking is that most successful speakers got that

way by doing just the opposite! They didn't try to be like somebody else.

They just gave themselves permission to be themselves in front of other

people. And much to their surprise, they discovered how much fun they could

have doing something most other people dread.

The secret, then, to their success is that they didn't try to become public

speakers!

You and I can do the very same thing. No matter what type of person we

are, or what skills and talents we possess, we can stand up in front of

others and fully be ourselves.

I now love to speak in public. Why? Because it's one of the few times I

give myself permission to fully be myself in the presence of others. I

can be bold, compassionate, silly, informative, helpful, witty . . .

anything I want. I can tell jokes, which I don't normally do, tell humorous

or poignant stories, or do anything else that feels natural in the moment.

As a result, I make much better contact with my audience. I don't drone

on and on about some uninteresting subject. I'm alive, I'm energized, I'm

fully invested in everything I say and do. That's another gift I can give

my audience. It also allows me to tell when I've gone on too long or when

the people who are listening to me begin to drift away.

When you really get good at being yourself in front of others, you can

even stand up in front of a group of people without any idea how you're

going to get across your two or three main points. Sometimes, I enjoy

throwing myself in front of a group without knowing specifically what I'm

going to say. I just focus on my three main points and remember I'm there

to give people something of value. Then I give myself permission to say

whatever comes to mind. In many instances, I say things I've never said

before! They just come out of me spontaneously while "being with my

audience." Sometimes, I'm truly amazed at some of the things I end up

saying or doing.

And you know what? People in the audience often come up to me afterward

and say, "you were great, I wish I had the confidence to give public talks

like you." That's exactly the wrong way to think. Don't try to give talks

the way I do, or the way anyone else does. Just go out there, armed with

a little knowledge and a few key points, and be yourself. Everything else

will usually work out. It might be a little rough the first few times you

try it, but after a while, you'll settle into some very successful ways

of being that will be all yours and no one else's.

Principle #6--Humility and Humor Can Go a Long Way

While each person will eventually find his or her style of public speaking,

certain maneuvers can be used by almost everyone. Two of these, humility

and humor, can go a long way to making your talks more enjoyable and

entertaining for your audience.

Humor is well understood by most of us, so little needs to be said about

it here. If being humorous feels comfortable for you, or if it fits your

speaking situation, go for it. It usually works, even if you don't do it

perfectly.

By humility, I mean standing up in front of others and sharing some of

your own human frailties, weaknesses, and mistakes. We all have weaknesses,

you know, and when you stand up in front of others and show that you're

not afraid to admit yours, you create a safe, intimate climate where others

can acknowledge their personal shortcomings as well.

Being humble in front of others makes you more credible, more believable,

and paradoxically more respected. People can connect with you more easily.

You become "one of them" instead of a remote expert who's head and

shoulders above them (which you really aren't). It also sets a tone of

honesty and self-acceptance, which people recognize in themselves as well.

Don't try to do this, however, if it's not authentic for you. True humility

is easily distinguished from the pretense of acting humble. If you pretend,

your audience will perceive this and lose respect for you.

Often, humor and humility can be combined very effectively. Telling

humorous stories about yourself, or using your own personal failings to

demonstrate some point you are trying to make, can be both entertaining

and illuminating.

For example, if you get nervous when you stand up to speak in front of

a group, or if you suddenly feel nervous during the middle of your talk,

don't hide this fact from your audience (they can tell anyway). Be

real--and humble--by acknowledging your fear openly and honestly. Ask

your audience for forgiveness while you take a few moments to collect

yourself.

Or, you can start your talk with a humorous story that produces the same

effect. For example, I've seen speakers begin their talks by saying "What

lies at the bottom of the ocean and shakes all over?" Answer: a nervous

wreck! This is a very endearing strategy that also helps relieve speaking

anxiety.

Principle #7--When You Speak in Public, Nothing "Bad" Can Ever Happen!

One thing that adds to the fear of public speaking is the dread people

have that something awful, terrible, or publicly humiliating will happen

to them.

What if I pass out from nervous exhaustion? What if I forget everything

I intended to say and am left standing there, totally speechless? What

if the audience hates me and begins throwing things at me?

What if they all get up and leave after the first ten minutes? What if

they snipe at me with harsh questions or comments once I'm done? What if

someone in the audience tries to turn the group against me?

These could be embarrassing if they occurred. Fortunately, most of them

don't happen.

Even when they do, it's useful to have a strategy in mind that has them

turn out perfect. Sound difficult? It's not really.

I've found that most of the "negative" things that happen when I'm speaking

can be handled by keeping this one simple, but powerful, principle in mind:

everything that happens can be used to my advantage.

If people get up and start to head for the door, I can stop what I'm doing

and ask for feedback. Was there something about my topic, my style, or

my manner of presentation that was offensive to them? Were they simply

in the wrong room at the start and didn't know it? Did someone misinform

them about what my talk was going to cover?

Regardless of what they tell me, just stopping to deal with this situation,

honestly and humbly, will often score points with my remaining audience.

It also will give me the opportunity to learn how I am affecting people,

so I can make any corrections that might be needed.

Even if everyone walked out and refused to give me a reason, I could

ultimately find ways to benefit from this experience. At the very least,

I could use it as the opening for my next presentation. "You know, I gave

this same talk the other day and everyone in the audience walked out in

the first ten minutes. That's my current record, so I guess we'll just

have to see what happens today."

The same principle holds for dealing with hecklers or people who ask harsh

or confrontational questions. If you assume that nothing truly bad can

ever happen when you're speaking in public, you'll be amazed how well you

can relate to such events and how often you can indeed use them to your

advantage.

And once you've successfully used this principle many times, your anxiety

about public speaking will almost completely go away. You'll know it will

be virtually impossible for anything "bad" to happen that you won't be

able to handle. That is a very comforting thought.

TIP: If you want a good role model for developing this skill, rent a video

tape of Johnny Carson's opening monologues. He was a master at using this

principle. No matter how his audience responded, Carson was always ready

to use their response, positive or negative, to make another joke. He

simply couldn't lose, even if the material his writers provided him was

rotten.

Principle #8--You Don't Have to Control the Behavior of Your Audience

To succeed as a public speaker, you don't have to control the behavior

of your audience. There are certain things you do need to control--your

own thoughts, your preparation, arrangements for audio-visual aids, how

the room is laid out--but one thing you don't have to control is your

audience. They will do whatever they do, and whatever they do will usually

be "perfect."

If people are fidgety or restless, don't try to control this. If someone

is talking to a neighbor, or reading the newspaper, or falling asleep,

leave them alone. If people look like they aren't paying attention,

refrain from chastising them. Unless someone is being intentionally

disruptive, there is very little you need to control.

Thinking you need to change or control other people is a hidden cause of

stress in many areas of life. This is just as true for relating to a group

as it is for relating to your friends, spouse, children, or other

acquaintances.

Principle #9--In General, the More You Prepare, the Worse You Will Do

Preparation is useful for any public appearance. How you prepare, however,

and how much time you need to spend are other matters entirely.

Many of the errors in thinking we've discussed so far often creep in to

people's strategies for preparation. If you have the wrong focus (i.e.,

purpose), if you try to do too much, if you want everyone to applaud your

every word, if you fear something bad might happen or you might make a

minor mistake, then you can easily drive yourself crazy trying to

overprepare your talk. In these instances, the more effort you put in,

the worse you probably will do.

On the other hand, if you know your subject well, or if you've spoken about

it many times before, you may only need a few minutes to prepare

sufficiently. All you might need is to remind yourself of the two or three

key points you want to make, along with several good examples and

supporting facts and . . . BOOM you're ready to go.

Overpreparation usually means you either don't know your subject well or

you do, but you don't feel confident about your ability to speak about

it in public. In the former instance, you'll need to do some extra research.

In the latter, you'll need to develop trust in your natural ability to

speak successfully. The only way to do this is to put yourself in the

spotlight, over and over again.

Go out and solicit opportunities to speak on your subject in public. Offer

to speak free or for a small fee, enough to cover your expenses. If you

have something of value to tell others, keep getting in front of people

and deliver it. In no time at all, you'll gain confidence. You'll also

begin to respect the natural public speaker/communicator within you.

Principle #10--Your Audience Truly Wants You to Succeed

The last principle to remember is that your audience truly wants you to

succeed. Most of them are scared to death of public speaking, just like

you. They know the risk of embarrassment, humiliation, and failure you

take every time you present yourself in public. They feel for you. They

will admire your courage. And they will be on your side, no matter what

happens.

This means that most audiences are truly forgiving. While a slip of the

tongue or a mistake of any kind might seem a big deal to you, it's not

very meaningful or important to your audience. Their judgements and

appraisals will usually be much more lenient than yours. It's useful to

remind yourself of this point, especially when you think you've performed

poorly.

Review Of 11 Hidden Causes Of Public Speaking Stress

1. Thinking that public speaking is inherently stressful (it's not).

2. Thinking you need to be brilliant or perfect to succeed (you don't).

3. Trying to impart too much information or cover too many points in

a short presentation.

4. Having the wrong purpose in mind (to get rather than to

give/contribute).

5. Trying to please everyone (this is unrealistic).

6. Trying to emulate other speakers (very difficult) rather than

simply being yourself (very easy).

7. Failing to be personally revealing and humble.

8. Being fearful of potential negative outcomes (they almost never

occur and even when they do, you can use them to your advantage).

9. Trying to control the wrong things (e.g., the behavior of your

audience).

ng too much time overpreparing (instead of developing

confidence and trust in your natural ability to succeed).

ng your audience will be as critical of your performance as

you might be.

Review of 10 Key Principles To Always Keep In Mind

#1---Speaking in Public is NOT Inherently Stressful

#2---You Don't Have to be Brilliant or Perfect to Succeed

#3---All You Need is Two or Three Main Points

#4---You also Need a Purpose That is Right for the Task

#5---The Best Way to Succeed is NOT to Consider Yourself a Public

Speaker!

#6---Humility and Humor Can Go a Long Way

#7---When You Speak in Public, Nothing "Bad" Can Ever Happen!

#8---You Don't Have to Control the Behavior of Your Audience

#9---In General, the More You Prepare, the Worse You Will Do

#10--Your Audience Truly Wants You to Succeed

That's all there is to it. Just look for these eleven hidden causes and

keep the ten corresponding principles in mind.

Of course, you will need to practice. It's extremely easy to forget the

ten key principles. No matter how often you review them, you'll

instinctively fall back into your old stress-producing patterns.

What is the best way to practice? Go out and speak in public. Join a local

Toastmasters Group if you like. Take a community college course in public

speaking. Better yet, offer to teach a course about something you know

very well.

Just keep throwing yourself into the arena, and in no time at all, your

skill, confidence, and natural ability will come to the surface.

And remember, if you get up in front of a group and find this stressful,

it only means you forgot the truth about what public speaking is all about.

Go back and review this Report. Find out what you did wrong or what you

didn't remember. Then go back out and speak again until you get it right.

It may take time, but the long-term rewards will be impressive.

Suggestions for Further Reading

If you like this type of advice and find it useful, you might want to check

out my full-length book about stress called The 14 Day Stress Cure (323

pages, $24.95). It covers many additional hidden causes of stress. It also

focuses on numerous other issues, such as how to cope with anger,

frustration, and other negative emotions; how to deal with relationship

conflicts; how to reduce your stress at work; and how to deal with stress

related physical complaints.