5 Steps in Managing Public Speaking Anxiety for Students

Everyone has that fear of addressing the public, especially for the first time. We don’t want to make mistakes when we speak in a public gathering. Whatever the cause of your public speaking anxiety, you can overcome it with these five steps:

Face your fear

Before you resolve any problem you are facing, the first thing is to be realistic and admit that such a problem exists. Acknowledge that it exists, and have faith that you will overcome it. When you become courageous enough to face your fear, then you will overcome it.

Be knowledgeable of what you will deliver

It will be of great help to you if you know your material thoroughly, not only memorizing it. You have to have good knowledge of the information you want to pass across, the main message and your key points. To be calm and relaxed on stage, just be prepared.

Don’t think it’s all about you

When making a public speech or addressing a crowd, we mostly think that everyone is looking at us, and thus this will make us uncomfortable. Before making a public speech, we need to adjust the way we see things. Change your mindset and know that although everybody in the room is looking at us, in reality, half of them are more interested in the message or content we are delivering, while their own thoughts and other irrelevant things carry the rest away.

Interact with your audience

When addressing the public, a big way to release the tension in you and free yourself from public speaking anxiety is by interacting with your audience. This can be done by getting them engaged and doing certain things like asking leading questions, bring up a story you can relate to and many more. As you interact with them and in getting them engaged, you’ll surely be more comfortable and your audience too will feel relaxed. One interesting thing you might not know is that interacting with your audience will make you a more engaging and dynamic speaker.

Think about the worst thing that will happen

In life, when faced with problems, we are often filled with worries and fears, fear of the worst happening to us. It will amuse you to know that just asking yourself of the worst thing that can happen in any problem you face can be a magical way of resolving problems and overcoming fears and worries. Just like in all life problems, asking yourself of the worst thing that will happen when addressing the public will work wonders for you, as it will free you of public speaking anxiety. Fear of your hand shaking, you making mistakes as you deliver your speech, panic, fretting or any other fears can come into your mind. Firstly, it’s unlikely for any of these problem to happen; but what if it happens? Simple, you pick up yourself, dust yourself off and live to fight another day. Making mistakes is part of life and business, so also public speaking.

In conclusion, you don’t have to worry about public speaking. The above tips will help you out if you have public speaking anxiety.