By: Katryna Johnson, J.D. – Staff contributing writer, subscriber, affiliate
Did you know that fear of public speaking is one of the most common fears that people will admit to having? It is not uncommon for someone to have their brain freeze, their throat close up and the blood drain from their face when called upon to speak in front of others.
The good news is that public speaking is a learned skill. You can start where you are and improve.
First, you need to identify what triggers your freeze response. Is it strangers in the room (because let’s face it, you are probably perfectly comfortable being a motor-mouth with your family, right?) or being called on unexpectedly. Before going into any situation where you may be called upon, set up ways for you to practice, practice, practice. Find every opportunity you can to talk and express your thoughts. You can start by talking to yourself in the mirror, then progress to talking to your spouse, to your kids, to your friends, to your colleagues, your Bible Study group. You can never practice enough.
But we all know that practice and a “real” situation are not the same. The real situation will bring up stress, fear, anxiety, and many other emotions. For many people who experience brain freeze, stress triggers our natural fight-or-flight reaction, often releasing too much adrenaline. That can make you feel light-headed or even nauseous. So even if you have practiced speaking in front of strangers and you can do it flawlessly in your living room, you still may freeze when you are put on the spot.
To combat your stress response, you need to work on figuring out how to calm your mind. Before you speak, take several long, deep breaths, and make sure your heartbeat is slow and steady. Drink a glass of water. One of the most important tricks you can do is to remind yourself WHY the information you are about to share is important. Take yourself out of it. Imagine yourself as an uninterested reporter just sharing information. The more you can approach your speaking opportunity without emotion, the better.
It takes practice. It takes getting up and trying and freezing and then trying again. Remember, even if you freeze, you are still doing something that others have not stepped up to do. Be proud of yourself for fighting your fear and keep trying. You can do it.
Katryna Johnson, J.D., aka Trina, owns Mirelli Entrepreneur Training for Women. Her passion for helping women came from seeing her law clients broken and demoralized after divorce. She helps women build confidence, take responsibility, and launch businesses. She wholeheartedly believes women who help other women succeed will change the world. Find out more at www. MirelliETC.com