Final Thoughts

Doing this blog has helped me learn new ways of coping with my fear of public speaking; that was one of the main reasons why I chose this topic.

While researching for my blog, I came across a few websites and videos that are beneficial to overcoming any fear (including stage fright).

I want to finish off my blog by sharing these videos and websites with you. I hope you find them as useful and effective as I think they are.


1) HOW TO OVERCOME ANY FEAR
http://www.howcast.com/videos/2747-How-To-Overcome-Any-Fear

2) HOW TO OVERCOME STAGE FRIGHT
http://www.howcast.com/videos/144556-How-To-Overcome-Stage-Fright

3) PUBLIC SPEAKING FEAR: FIGHT OR FLIGHT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiZoTM-2oSI&feature=related

4) STAGE FRIGHT STRATEGIES
http://www.antion.com/articles/stagefright.htm

5) FEAR BUSTERS - 10 TIPS TO OVERCOMING STAGE FRIGHT
http://garyguwe.wordpress.com/2007/08/09/fear-busters-10-tips-to-overcome-stage-fright-v1/

Feel Proud

The final step is feeling proud of yourself after the presentation for conquering your fears.

I personally feel good about myself once the presentation is over and I am back at my seat. I realize that I did my best and  it went better than I thought it would. What helps me feel even better is the fact that after a presentation, there are always people who congratulate me on how well I did and they always complement me in some way.

For me, the best part of having the presentation over with is that all the butterflies, the dry mouth, and the rapid heart rate all settle down and I can get back to feeling like my normal self.



Now its time to tell me your thoughts!

What is your favourite part about having the presentation come to an end?

Do you feel proud in everything that your accomplished during the presentation?




[1] Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2011). Business communication: process and product (6th Canadian ed). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education Ltd.

Say No to Caffeine

Caffeine can be both good and bad. Its good when you need an extra boost for a long day, but it is bad when you are a nervous presenter and drink caffeine.

Speaking from personal experince, if I am jittery and my heart is already beating really fast from my anxiety, a shot of caffeine has negative effects on me. It puts all my sense on over drive.

To stay calm during your presentation, reduce the caffeine intake before your time in the spotlight. There are all natural relaxation supplements that you can take to reduce the anxiety symptoms.

Being calm for a presentation is key to not being afraid. If you are calm and comfortable, speaking to an audience is 10 times easier.

For a full explanation of the The Physiological Effects of Caffeine visit the link below.
http://www.overcaffeinated.org/effects-of-caffeine-on-the-body.php

Sip of Water

Dry mouth is a very common symptom of stage fright. I know when I present, my mouth and my throat get so dry that it feels like the words are not even coming out of my mouth.

One way to get past that it to take a sip of water. It does not matter how long the presentation is; you could be speaking for 10 minutes to 2 hours, take a bottle of water with you. Taking a sip of water will do two things, it will quench your dry mouth and also, it gives you time to think about what you want to say or to collect your thoughts.[1]

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[1] Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2011). Business communication: process and product (6th Canadian ed). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education Ltd.

Put the Brakes On!

For people who get really nervous when they present, fast talking and stumbles are bound to appear in the presentation.

First, do not apologize for any stumbles or mixed up words. If you just continue talking, the audience may not even hear the mix up, or they will quickly forget the stumble.[1]

Sometimes, the speed you are talking is faster than the rapidness of your heart rate. Put the brakes on. I know you want to get the presentation over with, but try to slow down the pace of your talking. When you are talking fast, you do not have time to think about what you are saying.[2]


If you need to, stop and take a deep breath to compose yourself, then continue talking.

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[1] Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2011). Business communication: process and product (6th Canadian ed). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education Ltd.

[2] Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2011).

Shift the Spotlight to Visuals

If you are a nervous presenter, make sure to include appropriate visuals in your slide show or presentation. You can also distribute handouts to the audience.

That way many times during the presentation, you can turn your audience's attention to look at the graphs or other visuals while you talk. By doing that, you shift the focus away from you and towards the visuals. [1]

If you want to find out more about visuals aids for your presentation, visit the link below:
http://www.speaking-tips.com/Visual-Aids/




[1] Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2011). Business communication: process and product (6th Canadian ed). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education Ltd.

Pick a Focal Point

During a presentation, it is important to make eye contact with the audience to keep them engaged and to make sure they are paying attention. But many people, like myself, feel uneasy about making eye contact with the audience because they are nervous and they feel like they are being judged.

Many people say that imagining the audience in their underwear helps to relieve the feeling of the anxiety, I don't know about you, but that really does not work for me.

If you have friends in the class or room that you are presenting in, make eye contact with them. If you do not know anyone, choose spots around the room to look at during the presentation. Or you can make it look like you are making eye contact with people by looking just above peoples heads.

Now it is your turn to tell me your thoughts!

What do you do when you feel uncomfortable making eye contact with the audience when you are presenting?

Does imagining the audience in their underwear help ease your anxiety?



[1] Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2011). Business communication: process and product (6th Canadian ed). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education Ltd.

The Power of Breathing

To ease your nerves, take deep, slow breaths. A technique that my textbook suggests is to take a deep breath in through your nose for 10 seconds, then exhale through your mouth for 10 seconds.[1]

Another technique that I use to de-stress is to place my index finger over one nostril, then take a deep breath in for 5 seconds, then alternate finger to opposite nostril and exhale for 6 seconds. Then repeat for as long as needed until you feel the stress melt away.

By concentrating on your breathing and counting, it will help reduce your stress by taking your mind off of the looming presentation. [2]

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1 Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2011). Business communication: process and product (6th Canadian ed). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education Ltd.

2  Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2011).

3 Sombilon, R. (2011, March 16). Breathe Mat (picture). Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronsombilongallery/5633964589/

Convert Your Fear with Positive Self Talk

Turn your feeling of fear into a feeling of excitement. Anxiety is all in your mind. Instead of thinking about the butterflies in your stomach and the rapid heartbeat as feelings of anxiety, think about it as feelings of enthusiasm. Be enthusiastic about sharing your ideas and thoughts with others.[1]

Positive self-talk is a very powerful tool. Tell yourself that you are prepared and that you are ready to take the stage.[2] Remind yourself that you are only going to be on stage for a limited time, and then it’s over. Try not to focus on the negative thought that feed your anxiety.





Now it is your turn to tell me your thoughts!

I am really interested in other people’s strategies, so leave me a comment to let me know what you tell yourself to sooth your nerves before a presentation.

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[1] Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2011). Business communication: process and product (6th Canadian ed). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education Ltd.

[2] Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2011).

Feel Confident

I know from personal experience that when I dress the part and feel comfortable, I feel more confident.

Confidence will help you feel better about standing in front of people and speaking. When you are presenting, all eyes are on you. It is important to feel good about yourself and how you look.

Hygiene is key to feeling confident. Shower, shave, and groom!

Wear clothing that fits. There is nothing worse then standing in front of people and tugging on your clothes because it is too small or uncomfortable.

Also, wear shoes that are comfortable. For the ladies, do not wear heels if you cant walk with them. There is nothing more embarrassing than tripping or stumbling in front of a crowd.

Do not dress to be like someone else. Dress in what you think is comfortable.

For more tips on how to dress for a presentation, visit the link below:
http://andnowpresenting.typepad.com/professionally_speaking/2009/11/presentations-what-to-wear.html

[1] Lusk, L. (2010, February 4). How to dress for a presentation [picture]. Retrieved from http://presentationexpressions.com/how-to-dress-for-a-presentation-part-2-of-2