Myths about Public Speaking - Nervousness has to be eliminated to be a good speaker.

There are two kinds of speakers: those who are nervous and the rest are liars. This is a common saying I use when addressing nervous participants in my public speaking workshops.

Let us first understand what causes the fear of public speaking. According to The Book of Lists, fear of public speaking ranks number one in the minds of most people. The fear of standing in front of a crowd ranks far above the fear of death and disease. This fear is caused by many other fears: fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of being judged, fear of being stared at, or fear of the unknown.

Fear and nervousness are normal phenomena that stimulate the release of the hormone adrenaline into the bloodstream, giving the speaker energy and vitality. This is nature’s way of making us alert and ready to perform. The caveman used this nervous energy to fight tigers when he was confronted, but the modern-day speaker has to use his options differently to confront the modern-day tiger - Fear of public speaking.

• Option 1-Fight: The caveman could fight the tiger. Modern-day speakers can’t afford to fight the audience.

• Option 2-Flight: The caveman could choose to run away. It would look ridiculous if a speaker ran away from the stage.

• Option 3-Freeze: If the caveman froze, the tiger would simply make mince meat out of him. Most aspiring speakers would be wary of freezing in front of a crowd. That is the reason most people dread public speaking.

• Option 4-Face: The smart caveman would face his fear by frightening the tiger with a spear or would avoid the tiger’s path. The seasoned speaker will face the audience by using nervous energy to deliver a memorable speech.

Learning to channelize this nervous energy makes the speech more impactful. Nervousness should not be eliminated but channelized, or there is a danger of you sounding like a professor who has been teaching the same subject for thirty long years giving the impression that he is an unlicensed hypnotist.

Some methods to channel nervousness to your advantage are:

• Proper preparation to prevent poor performance

• Speak on topics about which you have knowledge, experience, and conviction.

• Do not expect perfection early in your speaking experience.

• Having a great opening will give you confidence and reduce initial jitters.

• Practice breathing techniques, meditation, and tension-releasing exercises before you speak.

• Concentrate on your message rather than on yourself and your performance.

• Use body language and vocal variety as a positive tool to regulate nervousness.

The last mantra: avoid statements like "I’m feeling nervous, I hope I give a good speech, I have not prepared well." Such apologetic statements draw negative attention to your nervousness and create a poor first impression with your audience.