How to Overcome Public Speaking Anxiety

Anxiety When Public Speaking

We all know the feeling. Perhaps agreeing to speak at a family wedding. But now anxiety fills you with dread. Are you wanting to progress at work? The idea of that big presentation giving you cold sweats? Or maybe wanting to contribute in group discussions. However, fear leaves you tongue tied. Whatever your situation, overcoming public speaking anxiety can be challenging. It’s also true that many of the masters of public speaking weren’t born naturals. Instead it’s a skill they’ve learnt.

Fear of public speaking

Symptoms of public speaking anxiety include stuttering, dry mouth, cracking voice and blushing. Unfortunately these symptoms aren’t helpful when delivering a good speech. But instead of worrying, considering where your anxiety is coming from. Firstly ask yourself what are you really afraid of? Being judged, making a mistake, or embarrassment? Realise that none of these warrant the amount of fear you’re feeling. In addition, is your mind blowing things out of proportion? In this way triggering a stress response. Luckily, by retraining the mind this fear can be overcome. Here’s a few tips for getting started.

Knowing and loving your audience

If you’re giving a speech at a wedding or funeral consider the purpose and the audience. No one is judging you. You are there sharing an authentic experience with close friends and family. And emotions are an important part of that. So no one minds if your delivery is not perfect.

Job Interviews

In situations like a job interview or presentation people may be more judgemental. Remembering that your audience are still human. They’re wanting you to succeed. Furthermore, they are there to enjoy the speaking experience with you. Do your research beforehand so you are more familiar with your audience. The more you know the better. You’ll be feeling more comfortable talking to a room full of familiar people rather than nameless faces. Take a step back and see yourself through your audience’s eyes. They don’t know you are nervous. You may well be appearing as a bright, confident person. So embrace that persona. Some signs of nerves can even be passed off as excitement or enthusiasm.

Preparing

Whatever type of speech you’re doing, feeling prepared is half the battle. It does wonders to eliminate nerves. Practising the speech a number of times, recording it, timing it. And, if necessary, visualising yourself delivering it well. Make sure you have everything you need for the big day – notes, props, slides, water and cue cards. Don’t add extra stress but being unprepared. Preparing for all eventualities – what might you say if you do stumble a little? How will you begin and end? What questions might people ask? If you don’t know the answer what will you say?

Delivery

Pacing yourself – practise at a speed that works for you and then stick to it. Don’t let nerves make you rush. Embracing silence – sometimes silence is impactful. And it gives you a chance to gather yourself. Don’t feel the need to fill every single second. Breathing – breathing deeply and slowly relaxes the body and mind. Relaxing – work on relaxing your muscles. In addition, stand up straight but comfortably. Smile when you can and be aware of your body language. Don’t be tempted to fidget or fiddle. Wear something smart but comfortable. Staying in the moment – focus on each word and the sentiment behind it. Avoid letting your mind wander or step outside yourself. Don’t worry about the ending when you’re just at the start. Eye contact – it’s helpful to connect with your audience by maintaining eye contact. However, if you get really nervous many people find that focusing on the microphone, their paper or one friendly face is the best way of succeeding. Enjoy – as you begin to relax you’ll start enjoying public speaking more. Taking a moment to relish the chance to be in the spotlight. Or making that contribution to someone’s special day. Focus on the reasons why you’re doing it. Improving – It’s well worth making notes after each speech on what went well. And what could be improved. Often we’re so relieved it’s over we can;t wait to forget all about it. That’s until the next time when you’re having to start from square one and the public speaking anxiety looms again.

Further Help with Public Speaking

If you would like more help with public speaking I have lots of experience in this area. Hypnotherapy is ideal for fears and anxiety such as this. Treatment can help you rewire your thinking so you’ll feel confident. And free of public speaking anxiety in your next speech. Contact me to learn more or to book a free consultation.

Alix Needham

My techniques guarantee that you remain in control at every session. These techniques, developed over 25 years, are so effective that many issues can be addressed in as little as three sessions and my location in the very heart of London means you can book sessions to work around work.

Public Speaking Confidence from Anxiety with Hypnosis
Fear of public speaking is one of the most common phobias clients seek help with. Many lack the confidence to speak to a group. However, there are many situations that call for it. These include job interviews or conferences, as well as weddings or funerals. Avoiding these things mean we might miss out on valuable opportunities in life. the opportunity for a career we are passionate about or to contribute to a loved one’s special day. Would you like more confidence with public speaking? Hypnotherapy for presentations is so effective, why miss out? If you’re struggling with a fear of public speaking you may be familiar with the following scenarios. Feel More Confident When Public Speaking Public speaking Problems Distorted mindset Fear can cause us to detach from the situation. This is called ‘worst case scenario’ thinking. One way of addressing these fears is by looking at the situation from another point of view. What are people really thinking? Does your audience really want you to fail? Are you losing your perspective on the results of ‘failure’? Speaking to a group may seem scary. But visualising success helps us feel calmer. An experienced hypnotherapist can guide you through this and create a feeling of grounding, power and calmness. There are always lots of different issues at play with something like public speaking. If it’s a work function, there may be authority anxiety at play for example. It might be that you have other symptoms of social anxiety and that the wider disorder can be treated. Or some people are absolutely un-phased in other social situations or at parties but as soon as the speaking engagement becomes official or formal, they struggle. Negative Fixations Some people fixate on the negative. Focusing on unpleasant physical sensations or negative past experiences. This becomes a viscious cycle. You feel bad, you worry more, you feel worse. It can be difficult to break free from the negative. What About the Positive Aspects? Imagine how good you’ll feel if it goes well. What joy could you bring to other people? How this could improve your life? Preparing well, whilst addressing your fears, will set you up for success. Hypnotherapy for Public Speaking Will… Improve your focus Help you develop practical strategies to prepare well and perform confidently Change how you feel from within Make you feel less scared and anxious Calm your ‘stress response’ Give you self hypnosis and coping techniques to draw on when needed Set you up for a future full of opportunities There are lots of public speaking classes and courses in London but they can only teach you so much. No amount of learning’ will help if your mind is setting you up to fail. When you change your subconscious mind, the rest will naturally follow. You won’t need to fake it and your audience will sense your authentic confidence. Hypnotherapy for Public Speaking Confidence Hypnotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for public speaking. This is because the problem lies in the mind. Treatment gets to the root of the fear or past negative experiences. My powerful techniques put you back in control and replace anxiety with confidence and wellbeing. In conclusion, advanced hypnotherapy will help you in achieving results in very few sessions. If you’re worried about a public speaking engagement please do get in touch. Further Reading on Speaking in Public Public Speaking Anxiety Nervous When Public Speaking Public Speaking Phobia : Case Study Public Speaking Hypnosis Overcome Fear of Public Speaking With Online Hypnotherapy Banish Your Fear of Public Speaking
Get Zoom Meeting Confident With Public Speaking Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy for Public Speaking There are various situations whereby you may be called upon to speak in front of a group at work or in your social life. However, no matter how much you prepare, that feeling of dread as the day draws near can seriously impact on your enjoyment of life. As well as your ability to perform when speaking in front of other people. This is why many people have discovered the power of public speaking hypnotherapy. Do You Have Presentation Anxiety? Does the thought of speaking to a group fill you with dread? Are you experiencing feelings of anxiety and other related symptoms? Is your fear affecting your performance when you’re the centre of attention? If you answered yes to the questions above, then the chances are you have a fear of public speaking. Zoom Meeting Tips Since Covid many of the very large events have been postponed. But a fear of public speaking isn’t limited to large audiences. Many of us still feel nervous addressing a small group of friends or colleagues. Even when this takes place online. The rise of Zoom and other online platforms have allowed meetings and events to move online. The Zoom meeting or event still presents many of the same challenges as face-to-face ones and throws in a couple more! Confident Zoom Meetings Visualise Positive Audience When people speak 1:1 or in small groups we tend to rely on visual feedback and cues such as smiles, nods and sounds. In a larger audience or over Zoom these feedback cues are not readily available. It’s not always possible to see your audience online – sometimes you are just talking to a blank screen. Or, even when you can see them, the fact that people are in front of a computer screen, means they adopt a resting face which gives very little away. Our brains are programmed to feel a little uncomfortable with this absence so we need to learn to do without and to assume we are speaking to a positive audience who want us to succeed. We can imagine the actual audience or if we presenting to an audience we cannot see or do not know it can help to create an imaginary persona to speak to. Find What Matters In face to face presentations or online meetings it can sometimes be hard to find the heart of the subject matter and make genuine connections. To create genuine emotion try to speak from the heart. Find a connection with the subject matter and think about communicating that to your audience. Connect With Your Body When you present to a live audience it can help to check in with your body. Breathe and stretch and use gestures to communicate effectively. With online public speaking we often forget about our body. We feel like we have to stay very still in order to keep within the camera frame and in focus. We can become stiff which makes us feel tense and we get stuck in our head. There are ways to engage and calm the body in ways which are appropriate for Zoom. Breathe Slowing and lengthening your breathing and speech can physically help to calm nerves. This works for any type of public speaking engagement. Although it is especially tempting to speak very fast during an online presentation, especially when there’s a time limit! Online events, meetings, training, webinars and presentations are part of the new norm. They present their own unique challenges along with many of the universal ones associated with public speaking phobias. hypnotherapy can help with both. Overcome Public Speaking Phobia If you are anxious about this issue, help is at hand. Alix Needham is a fully qualified advanced hypnotherapist. Through her tried and tested techniques, she will help you improve your confidence. imagine remaining cool and calm when speaking to a group. Alix will help you deliver a first class presentation and overcome all your fears. The effects of the hypnotherapy treatment are permanent. Alix Needham is based in London and is an expert in helping people overcome their fears. She helps thousands of clients to feel more confident and at ease when speaking to a group. So whether it’s a best man’s speech, a presentation or even a job interview that’s worrying you, hypnotherapy can provide you with the self confidence that you need to succeed. BOOK NOW Further Reading Public Speaking Anxiety Nervous When Public Speaking Public Speaking Phobia : Case Study Public Speaking Tips How to be More Confident Speaking at Meetings Overcome Fear of Public Speaking With Online Hypnotherapy Public Speaking Confidence
Public Speaking Tips – 10 Helpful Steps
Are you looking for public speaking tips? Start by using the following public speaking tips to prepare for speaking engagements. And, if you’re still looking to improve your public speaking, get in touch for some professional help. Tip 1. Rehearsing Your Speech A huge amount of your success is determined before the presentation. Your audience will know if you didn’t rehearse your speech. Taking time to practise beforehand minimises your nervousness. The more comfortable you become with your material via rehearsing, the more comfortable you will be with your body language. For interviews that means anticipating possible questions and preparing model answers. Tip 2. Closing and Opening Try to memorise your opening and closing words. 90 seconds of each is enough. The most important thing your audience will remember is your closing. Second most important thing they’ll remember is your opener. Start with something attention grabbing, like a quote or statistic, which relates to your topic. Tip 3. Practise Using These Public Speaking Tips Have a quiet dinner with a friend and go through your speech with them. You won’t be as concerned about your public speaking skills if you can feel at ease with your material. Tip 4. Avoid Last Minute Changes to Your Speech Try not to make many changes in the last 24 hours. There is nothing worse than re-writing your speech at the last minute. Tip 5. Public Speaking is Easier With Notes Make notes and review your notes and visual aids the evening before. Your notes should only be brief memory joggers in bullet form, and are NEVER read to the audience. Tip 6. Don’t Skip Breakfast Eat a good breakfast the morning of your presentation. Even if you’re not speaking until that evening, feed your mind and body the proper fuel. Tip 7. Check a Mirror Check your appearance in a mirror before starting your speech. Knowing that you look good will give you an added feeling of confidence when public speaking. Tip 8. Know Your Audience Know your audience before designing your speech. What are their ages? Will they like a little humour or simply the facts? These are important things to think about when putting together your speech or attending your interview. Tip 9. Eye Contact Keep making eye contact with the audience frequently to establish rapport and a connection. Tip 10. Time Date and Venue Lastly make sure to confirm the time, date, and place with the appropriate contact person before any public speaking engagement. If possible, arrange to see the room ahead of time so you can practise visualizing in the exact location of your presentation. At the minimum, arrive at least one hour ahead of time. More Help with Public Speaking These public speaking tips are a great starting point but maybe you feel you’d like more help to overcome a fear of public speaking? Sometimes our fears and phobias of public speaking run a little deeper and it’s something within our subconscious mindset that needs to shift. Once this happens, you’ll feel much more comfortable. I offer free no obligation initial consultations and can make a huge difference to your public speaking skills with only a few sessions (online or in person). Contact me today to learn more. Further Reading Public Speaking Anxiety Nervous When Public Speaking Public Speaking Phobia : Case Study Public Speaking Hypnosis Overcome Fear of Public Speaking With Online Hypnotherapy Public Speaking Hypnotherapy
How Online Hypnotherapy for Public Speaking Works
Overcome fear of public speaking with online hypnotherapy. Ask any group of people their biggest fear. And the chances are public speaking will be top three. In fact, studies have shown that people fear of public speaking more than fear of death. Online hypnotherapy is perfect to overcome fear of public speaking. So why is this common activity enough to make some of us sweat and shake with panic? Why we fear public speaking Because we are hardwired to prefer speaking one on one. So we tailor communication to gain others’ approval.In addition, the anticipation of a big event causing our minds to self-sabotage.Learned behaviour and negative thinking patterns set us up to fail. This is exactly the reason why Online Hypnotherapy is so effective at treating fear of public speaking. Instead of turning your mind to be your own worst enemy. Hypnotherapy makes it into your greatest strength. Why Online Hypnotherapy for Public Speaking Hypnotherapy changes your way of thinking. Instead of masking the fear, or practising until you can hide it, hypnotherapy reduces the fear itself. Calming negative thought patternsQuietening the self-fulfilling propheciesReframing past experiences Empowering and emboldeningReinvigorating and excitesBuilding new confidence and giving you back control Results that work Imagine preparing for your upcoming speech, panning carefully and visualising success. After as few as three convenient, online sessions you feel in control, confident and excited. Then you expect things will go well – a new positive affirmation – and your mind stays calm. Those learned negative fear responses vanishing, replacing stress with calm confidence. Public Speaking Hypnotherapy Simple, hassle-free therapy can be available in the comfort of your own home. Moreover hypnotherapy gives you a powerful new skill for life. Do you think Online Hypnotherapy can help? Reach out and ask for help from a friendly and experienced hypnotherapist. More reading Why Online Hypnotherapy? Public Speaking Anxiety Nervous When Public Speaking Public Speaking Phobia : Case Study Public Speaking Tips How to be More Confident Speaking at Meetings Public Speaking Confidence
How To Be More Confident Speaking at Meetings
Nervous Public Speaking
So Nervous When Public Speaking “I was so nervous when public speaking. Every time I had to stand up in front of my peers, my hands started shaking and I’d break out in a sweat. It got so bad that I’d have sleepless nights just thinking about it. What made matters worse was that my job depended on me talking in meetings and giving presentations” Nerves with Public Speaking For many people having to stand up in front of a group, fills them with a deep rooted sense of dread. It is a common problem and one, which for many, does not impact on their lives too much. But what if your job required you to conduct regular presentations? That fear would be almost unbearable. That is exactly how it feels for the unfortunate people who have a nervous public speaking issue. Anxious Speaking in Public All of us may at some point be required to stand up in front of a group and say what we think, whether this is work related or within social situations. If you are suffering with public speaking anxiety and being centre of attention, it can be difficult to find an effective way of managing your fear and preventing anxiety reoccurring. Treatment Options So what is the best anxiety treatment for nervous public speaking? Well some people try prescription medication to curb the anxiety, whilst others turn to coping strategies such as alcohol and cigarettes. The problem with these methods is that they try to alleviate the symptoms rather than finding a solution. Typically, they only provide temporary relief and are not good health wise. The aim of any form of treatment should be to overcome the symptoms and resolve the fear of speaking in public long term. Hypnotherapy for Nervous Public Speaking When it comes to dealing with pubic speaking nerves, there is one form of treatment which has been shown to work in numerous clinical trials. The best thing is that it’s completely natural and drug free. The answer lies in hypnotherapy. Hypnosis works by alleviating the undesirable symptoms and adjusting your anxious thoughts so you feel more at ease and can enjoy communicating to a group. If you have a fear of public speaking then please do contact me for a free initial consultation to discuss how we overcome your fear and prevent the problem reoccurring in the future. Further Reading Public Speaking Anxiety Tips for Public Speaking Public Speaking Hypnosis Overcome Fear of Public Speaking With Online Hypnotherapy Public Speaking Phobia : Case Study Public Speaking Hypnotherapy
Public Speaking Hypnosis
One person’s experience before public speaking hypnosis… “My heart was in my mouth, it was beating so fast I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stood in front of a crowd of 50 delegates and felt so anxious I couldn’t utter a word” Does that sound familiar? It’s a quote from an individual who had a fear of speaking in public. Fortunately, this no longer reflects how he feels, but it took three sessions of hypnotherapy to reduce those overwhelming feelings. Fear of public speaking, apart from fear of spiders is probably the most common phobia that people suffer from. But what should you do, if your livelihood requires you to speak in public, in front of groups of five through to two hundred people? Glossophobia The technical term for this fear is Glossophobia, whilst others refer to it as speech anxiety. However, both mean the same thing, which is fear of being the centre of attention and experiencing extreme anxiety when required to speak to an audience of people. So what is the best way to relieve the phobia of speaking in public? Fortunately, it can be helped with a variety of anxiety treatments, generally involving hypnosis or hypnotherapy. The key is to find the root cause of the problem and not simply mask the symptoms as this approach provides only temporary relief. Hypnosis for Speech Anxiety Hypnotherapy can help overcome fear of public speaking very quickly, and I’ve helped hundreds of people with this fear for both work related and social events such as best man speeches at weddings. Imagine you’re in a situation where in less than one hour, you will need to address a room of one hundred delegates and read a prepared speech. Imagine the heart pumping almost out of your chest, the sweat, perspiration dripping from your head as you think about all of the possible outcomes, most of which don’t end well for you in terms of embarrassment. If you’d like to try hypnosis for public speaking then contact me for more information about my phobia treatment options. Further Reading Public Speaking Anxiety Nervous When Public Speaking Public Speaking Phobia : Case Study Public Speaking Tips How to be More Confident Speaking at Meetings Overcome Fear of Public Speaking With Online Hypnotherapy Public Speaking Hypnotherapy Public Speaking Confidence
Hypnotherapy for presentation anxiety