Monday, December 19, 2011

How to Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking

Supposedly, a lot of people fear public speaking more than dying. And yet, many people have great stories to tell. They never live up to their potential because of their fear.
How do you conquer a fear of public speaking? By joining Toastmasters, of course. In this great organization our members gradually learn how to become better speakers by addressing issues such as Ahs and Ums, eye contact, vocal variety, body movements, researching your topic, and organizing your speech. That doesn't mean that our speeches are boring. On the contrary: We have amateur and improv actors in our club who are giving us more than our money's worth.
You can overcome your fear of public speaking by speaking about your passion. Let's say you're an accountant and your friends roll their eyes when you start talking about your job. But your real passion is fly-fishing. By all means speak about fly-fishing, and your passion will shine through.
Giving the audience what they want is key. They have to leave your presentation with a message they can use to improve their own lives.
What are you waiting for? Go for it!

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