Reader,
Everything I thought I knew about public speaking was WRONG.
And here's how to avoid making the same mistake...
For 30 years, I overcomplicated public speaking. I used to believe public speaking is a talent—not a skill.
And... I'm good enough if others don't judge me negatively.
But I was wrong... BIG time!
If you’re a Beginner Speaker, and struggling anxiety...
AVOID:
- Viewing speaking nerves as signs of weakness
- Trying to use advanced vocabulary to sound smart
- Worrying over perfection and making mistakes
- Worrying about fillers, body language, and tonality
- Thinking that you're alone and unique in this fear
INSTEAD:
1. Embrace speaking nerves... it’s completely normal
- Speaking nerves spike in the beginning
- But, like any emotion, they last for up to 60-90 seconds
- Belly breathe for 90 seconds to resets your nervous system
2. Speak in plain, simple language... easy to digest
- Advanced vocab doesn't make you sound smart
- Purpose is to get your point across efficiently
- Use eighth grade language or less
3. Mistakes & failures are not the end of the world
- Embrace mistakes: practice in safe settings
- And over time you'll get comfortable with them
- Be intentional and reflect after each presentation/ talk
4. View public speaking as a conversation with audience
- 3-5 second of eye contact individually, if possible
- Ask YES or NO questions frequently to engage them
- See it as 2-way communication rather than a solo sermon
5. Uncover limiting beliefs contributing to your fears
- What mental blocks are holding you back?
- Seek expert guidance to uncover & fix them firstly
- This step lays a foundation for your speaking transformation
>> Here's a detailed blogpost on what works, what doesn't, and what works best to make your transformation from anxiety to speaking confidently in any setting.
REMEMBER..
Everyone experiences speaking nerves. But this is what makes the most difference:
- Confident ones know how to manage speaking nerves
- Nervous speakers view it as "threat" and sign of weakness
Until next time.
-Waqas
P.S.-- Reply with "PDF" and I'll send you a compact PDF guide with these tips that you can keep handy for future use.
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