Monday 20 June 2016

Dr. Gregory Brammer - Getting Past Public Speaking Anxiety

Though he is now an experienced public speaker with hundreds of hours of presentations and speeches under his belt, Dr. Gregory Brammer still remembers how nerve-racking it was to face up to the idea of speaking in front of others for the first time. Many people struggle with anxiety when speaking in public, so try to keep the following in mind to ensure you stay calm and collected when presenting.
Practice
If you don’t spend time rehearsing your speech, it is only natural that you are going to feel less than confident when you are called upon to present it to others. Start work early and make sure that your speech has a defined structure for you to follow. Practice delivering it to others, or even in front of the mirror, so that you can make changes to clunky sections and develop a greater understanding of your subject matter.

Be Early
Wake up with plenty of time to get yourself prepared before your speech. Get the clothes you will wear ready the night before, get plenty of rest and enjoy a good breakfast before you make it to the venue. Try to turn up early so that you can get comfortable in your surroundings.

It’s Okay to be Nervous
Dr. Gregory Brammer points out that many of the people in your audience will expect you to be nervous, especially if you are new to public speaking. Don’t feel bad about your nerves, as this causes you to focus more intently on them, leading to frustration that often results in mistakes being made.