Fear of Public Speaking

By John Altman, CHP

     Picture yourself standing at a podium giving a speech on one of your favorite topics. It is a topic that you are passionate about

and you really want to get your message across.

     Your audience is one person and that person is a good friend

of yours. No one else is in the room. You two are totally alone.

As you give your speech you are calm and collected

because after all you are essentially talking to just your friend.

When you finish your short 3 minute speech you are excited and

proud of yourself because you have enlightened your friend about

your passionate topic. You are thinking about the next speech you will give.

     Now picture yourself giving the exact same speech to two friends sitting in the audience. There is no one in the room but you three. Your friends are sitting way in back so you have to really speak up.

     Again you do a wonderful job. Feel the satisfaction of a job well done.  Feel the excitement of being able to present and educate others on your ideas and feelings and beliefs.

Now picture and audience of three. They are acquaintances.

You do know them fairly well. They are interested in what you

have to say. You are speaking up nicely. You are projecting your

voice well. You are calm and concentrating on what you are saying.

     You are breathing fully and slowly. This is standard procedure

for you. You are watching your audience and you are totally

unconcerned about their perceived thoughts. You are doing

a wonderful job. Feel the excitement and the satisfaction.

     From now on when you talk to anyone from one person to 20 people you are in control and are focusing inward on what you are saying and are ignoring the audience. You could talk with you eyes closed and be just as effective. You enjoy giving speeches and look forward to giving them.