How To Overcome Communication Anxiety In Speaking To Groups

by Inspiration4Living.com

The fear of speaking in public is the most common fear in the world. Many people are filled with dread at the thought of standing up in front of a group of people (no matter how large or small) and giving a speech.

Communication anxiety can manifest in several different ways, including sweating, speech disruptions, racing heart, dry mouth, upset stomach, flushing, and shortness of breath. There are things you can do, however, to overcome communication anxiety.

First, you must understand the underlying causes of communication anxiety. The most common source of communication anxiety is the fear of what the audience will think of you. You worry that you may not be as knowledgeable about the subject as the audience expects. Even if you are an expert on the topic, you worry that the audience will “see through you.”

There are ways to overcome this anxiety by reminding yourself of why they asked you to speak. Most people are not asked to speak to a group unless the group is interested in what they have to say. The audience doesn’t expect you to have all the answers. Also, remember, at the end of your speech when you ask for audience questions, it is okay to admit if you don’t know the answer to a question. You can simply respond that you are not sure of the answer but will get back to them as soon as you can or have someone else who can answer the question.

Another source of the fear is that you will forget your speech or the topic on which you are speaking. This can be overcome by simply writing a speech. Be careful when writing your speech, however. You don’t want to write it out verbatim. Instead, write an outline of the speech you wish to give, highlighting the main topics and trust in your ability to fill in the blanks.

Allow yourself the room to make mistakes. No one is perfect; therefore, no speech will be perfect. If you free yourself from the belief that you must give the perfect speech, you will be more relaxed.

Don’t deny your communication anxiety. By pretending you don’t have the fear of public speaking, you are not looking at the problem head on. By facing that you have speech or communication anxiety, you are taking steps in overcoming your communication fears.

Other things you can do to overcome your communication anxiety is to practice breathing and using visualization techniques. By practicing breathing exercise, you are forcing your heart rate to slow down, thereby relieving your anxiety. Also, using visualization techniques will help you prepare for your speech.

Another technique is to practice your speech several times between being asked to speak and giving your presentation. Make sure you are fully prepared with any visual aids that you may need for your speech. Also, arrive early so you can check any equipment that you may be using to aid in your speech.

Communication anxiety is the most common fear of people universally. More people fear giving a speech than anything else; however, there are steps you can take to overcome your fear of speaking in front of a group. By following some of the above steps, you can learn to overcome your communication anxiety and have a good time giving public presentations.

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