If Public Speaking Scares You. Use These 10 Psychological Tricks To Go From Fearful To Confident

Do you ever freeze the moment everyone's eyes are on you? Your heart races, your mind goes blank, and suddenly, every word you planned just disappears. Here is the truth. That is stage fright that gives you performance anxiety and emotional dread of speaking in front of a crowd. 

This stage fright triggers fears like judgement from the audience, fear of failure, and fumbling, and that's when you feel your heart racing and your mouth drying, sweating or trembling. Speaking fluently is not about being perfect. It is about being present in the moment. 

First thing, understand that feeling some nervousness before giving a speech or addressing a crowd or speaking in front of a camera is natural and healthy. But too much nervousness can be detrimental to your performance. That is why it is important to know the room in which you will speak. Knowing the audience is crucial, as is being familiar with the material you will be speaking on. 

If Public Speaking Scares You. Use These 10 Psychological Tricks To Go From Fearful To Confident

1. Define your objective. What do you want to speak on? What message do you want to impart through your speech? What action do you want the audience to take after listening to you? State your goals clearly.

2. Understand your role. You are not just a speaker. You are a performer. You are living a character and selling a story. You must live your role. Bring it alive that makes people hooked to your words. 

3. Maintain 50/70 eye contact. Look at individuals, not the 'crowd'. Maintain eye contact 50 per cent of the time while speaking and 70 per cent while listening. This makes you appear engaged without making the other person uncomfortable.

4. Use the 'As if' Method. You must have heard the famous saying 'Fake it till you make it'. Act 'as if' you are already the most confident person in the room. Master the beginning. Always start when the room is silent. Pause for two to three seconds then speak. 

5. Start with a strong hook. Begin with a pain point, story, quote, question, or a surprising fact. Grab the attention of the audience in the first 10 seconds. If got the audience to relate with the words in the opening hook, you've got their attention.

6. Handle your nerves. Name your feeling out loud. Racing heart? Not fear, it is adrenaline rushing through. Shaky voice? Not weakness. Take deep breaths. This is not anxiety. This is excitement. Change your mindset from "I have to do it" to "I am getting to do this."

7. Strategic pauses. Use silence as a tool to let your big words and ideas land. Use eye contact during pauses to emphasise authenticity and emphasising key points. This makes you look more confident.

8. Use strong body language. Stand tall and straight with your shoulders back and your hands in front of you. Make eye contact with people. Gesture with your hands in a natural way like you are talking to someone. Smile and it instantly strikes a connection with your audience. 

9. Voice modulation. Change your tone, pitch, and pace to avoid monotony. Practice deep breathing to avoid the strain in voice while speaking. Bring emotions in your words like excitement, seriousness, curiosity wherever required.

10. Killer closing. End on a high note, never a 'thank you' slide. Leave the audience with something to ponder on. Drop some big ideas and questions and space for engagement and queries.