Essential Tips for Overcoming Performance Anxiety

Use these tips for overcoming performance anxiety or fear of public speaking to remove the need to battle the fight or flight syndrome head on.

Be a Fact Finder

1. Know where the performance/speech is scheduled to happen.



2. Know precisely when you are required to be there.



3. Find out how long you are expected to speak for.



4. If you don’t know or haven’t been told, find out what subject matter is suitable.



5. Get an estimate of the expected size of the audience and who they are likely to be: male,female, mixed audience, old, young, mixed age range and any other pertinent defining characteristics.



6. Make sure you WRITE IT ALL DOWN and put somewhere you know you’ll not lose it: place, date, time, length of speech, subject, audience AND the name of your contact person from the organization or group you’re speaking for, plus their phone number.

Plan & Prepare

• Planning, researching, writing & rehearsing your speech
• Planning & preparing the use of props of any sort: music, art, photographs or objects
• Planning & preparing yourself: grooming, choice of clothing and more...

Yeah, Yeah..But I NEED EMERGENCY HELP NOW!

• Voice Image Secrets: Understand why it's important to have the best dressed voice in town. Grooming isn't just for clothes. How you speak can determine what other people think about you. Click up those voice image secrets



• Articulation/Diction Exercises: Tips to ensure you are understood. If you are inclined to mumble or fudge the ends of your words, then this is for you. Get your speech clear now!



• Coloring your voice: If you speak in a bland gray monotone you risk boring your listeners! They switch their ears off. Click to learn to speak in vibrant, alive TECHNICOLOR vocal variety. Have them sitting on the edge of their chairs begging for more.



• Pacing your speech: How fast is too fast? How slow is too slow? Get your speaking pace JUST RIGHT.



• Using Silence: Give your words space so they may be fully effective. Pausing gives the listener time to hear and understand what you are saying. Silence is one of the most powerful speaking techniques to use. Get the Power of the Pause here!



• Posture: What is your body language telling your audience? Make sure its story fits your speech as your listeners use their eyes as well as their ears. The blend of what you look like with what you sound like is an essential element in giving a successful speech.
  Teach Yourself Body Language Basics



• Remembering to breathe: Good breath control governs whether you squeak with anxiety or deliver as smooth as silk. If you hold your breath when concentrating or anxious, this is the one for you. Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety Breathing Exercises



• To use humor or not to use humor: When your idea of a good laugh turns bad, it can be ugly. Get How to Use Humor Effectively tips to avoid the embarrassment of being the only one who ‘got’ the joke.

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