- Scott Woronuik

Harnessing your nervous energy when you speak in front of others.

When you have to get up and talk in front of people what do you experience?

Do you:

• Freeze?
• Stammer?
• Move (uncontrollably)?
• Shake?
• Lose your Memory?
• Feel your knees turn to jelly
• Feel Tongue Get Thick?
• Have a Dry Mouth?
• Feel Face turning red

Let’s look at some of the ways you can overcome this thing called "Nervousness". Incidentally, Most people call this fear "Nervousness". That is why I use it much of the time. It should more rightly be called "Fear" of speaking. Being a little nervous isn’t a bad thing – it keeps you ‘on edge’ at times when you need it.

1. Nervousness is not unique.

• Over 85% of people surveyed hold public speaking as their greatest fear. Check out the Book Of Lists at your local library. You’ll find "Fear of Speaking in Front Of A Group" is at the top of their list of fears. Surveys continually find Nervousness tops the list of fears for over 85% of groups surveyed.

2. There is no Magic formula...only control

• Your control is to think of the Sense of challenge – and your achievement. You could liken to an athlete’s surge of energy the "Up" feeling. This is how they refocus their "fear" or "anxiety".

Here’s a way to re-focus your nervous energy.

• Focus on your audience. If you look honestly what you are nervous or fearful about, you’ll find all your reasons have to do with you! "I might make a mistake"; "I might forget"; "I don’t know these people". All "I’s"!
• Move the focus! Remember your brain works best when focused on one big task at a time. When you are speaking to one person or one thousand, your purpose is always on what you want to happen when you stop talking.
• And give your audience credit. They won’t abuse you. Unless you are handy with a lasso, you didn’t rope them into listening to you. Either they or management felt you had something to offer that would be useful to them . Remember most of them publicly or secretly are struggling with the fear of getting up and speaking in front of a group. When you do it you encourage others to try too.

To further help you "Get over it!" here are - Seven Steps To Help Reduce Anxiety When Speaking:

• Attitude: it will determine success. Think of speaking in front of people as an opportunity not a duty. A chance for you to share your ideas. Accept it.
• Experience: the more you do the easier it will become. Take advantage of every opportunity.
• Preparation: know what you are going to say. Remembering the first rule in effective presenting is to say what you NEED to say not what you WANT to say to get the ’buy-in’ from your audience.
• Relaxation: A quick an easy exercise is to take in a deep breath and let it out slowly. However be sure you replenish your breath before speaking. Otherwise you’ll be trying to speak without breath support! A sure way to unnerve you!
• Concentrate: on honing your communication skills. My book Speak With Power will help you orchestrate your message.
• Polish your speaking techniques: The more you do this the better you’ll become. Remember your voice has to be "just there" whenever you are speaking. It is the effective techniques that make Olympians win gold. They have developed the tools they need to succeed. Those tools are honed and ready to move them ahead of the competition. For example you need to change your pitch and pace with each new thought. When you are comfortable with your words - and the way you’re saying them - your focus can be on your audience.
• Don’t react to any anxiety: For example, don’t begin by saying "I’m really nervous up here…" or "I’m not really used to speaking in front of people…." Or whatever other excuses you might make in case you might do something wrong. Remember your audience wants you to succeed. They came to hear you. They are the focus – not you!

As a last word let me share a short story with you. A recent client came to me for help. She was so nervous, she had a up the opportunity to a very senior position because it would involve giving a great many presentations.

After, less than a month, applying these techniques and others I will share with you, she was not only getting up and speaking with poise and focus; she was happily accepting opportunities to speak. Such positive achievements as this not only makes you feel more comfortable, this positive power spreads to every fiber of your being.

If you are harbouring any fear of speaking in front of a group of any size fear let this be your goal.

"In business, at home, and in my community,
I will put my ‘fear of speaking’ into my hip pocket.
I will start using these ‘Cooper Steps"
And - start speaking in a way
that "turns stone walls" into stepping stones!"
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