Most believe that "confident public speakers are not nervous". Do you also believe that?
Today, let's separate facts from fiction Reader
CONFIDENT PUBLIC SPEAKERS ARE NOT NERVOUS [PUBLIC SPEAKING MYTH]
Can you reflect on how you might have formed this misconception?
This is how I created this false belief when I was younger ...
I grew up watching others delivering "flawless" speeches, reading news, and delivering political sermons on TV.
But the reality is quite the contrary:
Actors rehearse their lines 100s of times and rely on ques from fellow actors
... and others use a teleprompter, and that's how they seem to appear more confident and less nervous.
But this is not the right ideal to chase ...
We don't want to remove emotions from our talks Reader
... because that's what you need to make and maintain a meaningful connection with the audience.
Reading word-for-word from a teleprompter, slides, or notes is likely to make us sound more robotic, monotone, and worst of all emotionless.
I have 2 arguments to debunk this misconception that confident public speakers are not nervous.
1 - Speaking confidence is not the absence of nervousness
... but rather, it is your ability to manage the speaking nerves and staying on top of that nervousness.
The goal is never to completely get rid of that nervousness, but to be able to manage it and become confidently nervous.
Because with speaking nerves and vulnerability, the audience can see you as one of them ...
as they cannot relate with a monotone alien bot who shows zero emotions and appears "confident"
... and who might be dead inside ;)
Does this make sense Reader?
I would rather be a public speaker who seems a bit nervous and shares vulnerability but is confident enough to manage it.
'Tis the secret sauce to be engaging and relatable to the audience.
Similarly,
Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to rise in the face of fear.
To me, when you rise to the challenge and finally say No to your speaking anxiety, I call it courage.
2 - You feel nervousness when you genuinely care about something
Dale Carnegie famously said this on the topic:
"Speakers who say that they are as cool as a cucumber, oftentimes they are also as inspiring as a cucumber."
Meaning?
They bore the audience to death with their monotone, uninspiring rambling which oftentimes goes on and on for hours.
They simply don't care about the audience's interest.
So, the fact that you are feeling speaking nerves is reassuring that ...
that talk, that presentation, that audience, that opportunity means something to you and that you genuinely care about the speaking engagement and people sitting in front of you.
Also, it signals your body to get ready, rise to the challenge, and be prepared to perform at the best level possible.
But the problem most of us face is that they don't know what to do when they feel this nervousness.
That's exactly what I am here to help Reader...
to equip you with tools and strategies to manage and overcome those speaking nervousness
So that you emerge as a courageous person, confident and engaging speaker.
Finally, let me conclude with Mark Twain's quote which seems to be the perfect ending for today's topic:
"There are two types of speakers: those that are nervous and those that are liars"
So, the next time when you hear someone saying that they have zero speaking nerves on stage, feel free to quote Mark Twain ;)
That's a wrap!
BRINGING IT HOME
TL; DR
- Speaking confidence is not the absence of nervousness but rather your ability to manage the speaking nerves and stay on top of it.
- There are two types of speakers: those that are nervous and those that are liars.
- The goal is to not rid you of the speaking nerves but to make you be okay with it and not panic when that happens to you.
Let me know what you liked about today's issue? I personally reply to EVERY email.
THREE MORE WAYS I CAN HELP YOU
1 - Free Discovery Call - Book your free discovery call now to uncover the root of your anxiety and fast-track your journey from nervous to confident speaker 🎤. Don’t miss out—time is of the essence! Seize the opportunity and take that first step toward transformation!
2 - Free live webinar - I will host a Live FREE Webinar on Friday (@1:30 PM MT, 12:30 PM PST, 02:30 PM CST, 03:30 PM EST) in which you will learn three secrets to overcoming your public speaking anxiety.
3 - Social media - I regularly share practical tips and insights on public speaking and communication skills. If you are active on Youtube, Instagram, or Threads, let's connect.
P.S. If you know someone who could benefit from this newsletter, I’d love to have them join our community of public speakers. They can subscribe here. Thanks!
Best,
Waqas, Founder & Speaking Coach
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