How to conquer your fear of public speaking

key principles from Morton C Orman

PUBLIC SPEAKING

• The fear you have is something you´ve been taught

• You are NOT battling against nature.

PUBLIC SPEAKING IS NOT INHERENTLY STRESSFUL

• People are looking for value, NOT entertainment

• Focus on the value, not the laughter and applause

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE BRILLIANT TO SUCCEED

• Or even just one

• People cannot take in more than a couple of learning points, so don´t try to teach them EVERYTHING

• Go for a couple of key points and learn them well

ALL YOU NEED IS TWO OR THREE POINTS

• Your purpose is NOT to get people to like you, or to get them laughing

• Your purpose is NOT to get EVERYBODY satisfied. Someone will always disapprove.

• Give your audience something of value, look at it as handing out 100 dollar bills. People who reject free money aren´t worth stressing over

A PURPOSE THAT IS RIGHT FOR THE TASK

• People sense ”fake” from miles away so don´t try to adapt a ”public speaker personality” – Be yourself

• The best public speakers are not trying to emulate anyone, they´re just letting themselves be themselves (though sometimes an extreme version of themselves)

DON’T CONSIDER YOURSELF A ”PUBLIC SPEAKER”

• Talking about your own failings and problems will help the audience connect and feel secure

• If you present this humility in a humerous way it willoften feel safer for both you and the audience.

• Don´t try to do stand-up

HUMILITY AND HUMOR CAN GO A LONG WAY

• Everything that happens can be used to your advantage

• People walk out: Ask for feedback (They might be in the wrong room)

• Questions you cant answer? (Ask the audience and learn)

• They´re not gonna kill you!

WHEN YOU SPEAK IN PUBLIC, NOTHING "BAD" CAN EVER HAPPEN!

• People do what they do, focus your control on presentation, audio visual equipment etc.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONTROL THE BEHAVIOR OF YOUR AUDIENCE

• It will hinder your performance..

• Know your topics well, but don´t time and reherse every single aspect

DON´T OVER-PREPARE

• They want value and to get that they want to help you succeed

YOUR AUDIENCE WANTS YOU TO SUCCEED

11 HIDDEN CAUSES OF PUBLIC SPEAKING STRESS

1. Thinking that public speaking is inherently stressful (it's not).

2. Thinking you need to be brilliant or perfect to succeed (you don't).

3. Trying to impart too much information or cover too many points in a short presentation.

4. Having the wrong purpose in mind (to get rather than to give/contribute).

5. Trying to please everyone (this is unrealistic).

6. Trying to emulate other speakers (very difficult) rather than simply being yourself (very easy).

7. Failing to be personally revealing and humble.

8. Being fearful of potential negative outcomes

9. Trying to control the wrong things (e.g., the behavior of your audience).

10. Spending too much time overpreparing

11. Thinking your audience will be as critical of your performance as you might be

www.samlerhuset.no