7 tips to help introverts conquer the fear of public speaking
Fear of public speaking can be terrifying, paralyzing. Intelligent, articulate, introverted people have compared it to a near-death experience. Here are useful tips to mitigate this scourge.
In reality, many PR professionals are reserved, even introverted; they find speaking in public intimidating. But in PR, it’s difficult to avoid occasional public speaking. Some good news: If you’re an introvert, there are ways to make the ordeal of public speaking easier to endure.
1. Plan, practice and educate yourself.
The one thing guaranteed to freeze your blood is the unexpected. The best way to avoid this is to do the following.
Plan everything:
Practice:
Educate yourself:
2. Smile before you do anything else.
When you smile, you feel more relaxed and confident. You become more likeable. When you step on stage to speak, look out into your audience and smile. Begin on a warm, positive note.
3. Engage your audience throughout.
Most speakers speak, then field questions. If you’re an introvert, this may not be best. You might want to ask questions and solicit comments throughout your talk. This gives you short breaks from all of the attention. When it’s time to ask for audience feedback, you’re less likely to be barraged with comments and questions.
4. Tell a story.
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