careernav.

Many people have issues with public speaking. And at school, university, and some workplaces, you will need to confront this fear for presentations, performances or speeches. It’s not too hard once you get the hang of it—just remember that at least half the people in the audience are as scared as you at public speaking, and admire the job you’re doing.

In order to gain confidence at public speaking, here are the top 5 pointers:

1. Singing lessons - Taking lessons one-on-one with a singing instructor can help you to gain confidence with your own voice. Not only are you working on things like projection and enunciation, but you’re adjusting to performing in front of someone. An end of year concert can really help to heighten your tolerance of public performances.
2. Theatre Group -  If you join a small community theatre group, which only does small-scale performances, then this is a good place to start. You’re working on remembering lines, voice projection, and performing to an audience. It can also help to assume the role of someone else, so you can hide your nerves behind the mask of your character. If you then assume a character for your public speaking, this can help you be confident in front of an audience.
3. Practice your speech in front of family and friends - If you get truly nervous, then before your oral presentation or speech, organise an hour where you get your family and a few friends together to listen to you. In this instance, you know they are all going to be very supportive, and it gives you a good trial run. You might even realise that your speech is pretty damn good, and gain confidence from that.
4. Don’t look directly at your audience - As a public speaker, meeting someone’s eye from the audience is often your undoing. You could be going reasonably well, but then you realise anew that everyone is watching you. Their stares can often feel expectant and critical, even if they’re listening happily. Instead, make sure you look just above everyone’s heads, so it looks like you’re acknowledging your audience, but you don’t meet any gazes to put you off.
5. Concentrate on what you’re saying - This can make it easier to block out the audience. If you’ve rehearsed, then you’ll know your speech pretty well. In order to give yourself a focus other than the people watching you, concentrate on your words. Don’t recite your speech — explain it. Allow yourself to become emotionally involved, so that instead of just saying the words on your paper while freaking out about the audience, you’re too distracted by what you’re saying to care about the audience.

Good luck with those oral presentations, drama and theatre solos, and practical language exams. You can do it. Just practice over and over again until it is second nature…then ignore the examiners as best you can!