Key points Speaking in public can be an all-in-one fear Anxiety is directly linked to the amount of uncertainty we feel Deal with the cause (uncertainty), not the symptoms (nerves)! Why do we get nervous? Anxiety can take many forms – feeling sick, a shaky voice, sleepless nights, dry mouth – but they all More…
Public Speaking Nerves: Anxiety can work for you!
Key points You can choose to experience adrenaline as either energy or anxiety. Certainty of information (message) is the strongest foundation you can create. Focus on your message and become a natural presenter. Do you choose fear or fun? Psychologist Stanley Schacter has conducted experiments on the way people label the physical symptoms of More…
The Myth of First Impressions
While helping the President of a multinational company with a $20 million pitch, we needed to dispel a common myth before he could move forward. (By the way, they got the $20 mil.). You must have heard this one. ‘People form their lasting impression of you in the first 30 seconds’ (or 8 seconds depending More…
‘We can face the confidence with future’: A media lesson from Julia Gillard
Slips of the tongue happen all the time. They’re not a problem. What matters is how we handle them. When speaking in public (or televised from Parliament), the best way to handle them is to pause, smile, and correct yourself. A minor blip. The worst way to handle them is to ‘power on’ and pretend it More…
Release the anxiety for effortless public speaking
We can gain some insights from the work of F.M. Alexander. One hundred years ago Alexander developed a technique to use our bodies more effectively yet with less effort. Forcing a style can damage your health Alexander was an actor, but when he performed in front of an audience he would rapidly become hoarse. This More…
Get a method! Rules stop you thinking clearly
Public Speaking courses often focus on ‘Dos and Don’ts’ – a list of things you should always do to be successful. And a (typically long) list of thing you should never do. The core idea behind the Rules approach is that by simply following the rules you will be a great speaker. It doesn’t work. Why? Because rules don’t More…
How to develop poise as a Speaker
Poise is a lovely word. It implies ‘calm’, ‘balance’ and ‘assuredness’ and it underpins powerful delivery skills. Most speakers don’t have poise because they don’t fully understand the (normal) anxiety that comes with public speaking. The ‘Stress Response’ to danger/uncertainty/fear actually causes us to shrink, tighten and contract our muscles. When you understand what’s happening to you – and when More…
Vital secret from the King’s Speech (movie)
King George in the movie ‘The King’s Speech’ was naturally left-handed, yet forced to use his right hand at a young age. His speech therapist, Australian Lionel Logue, explains that this is quite common in stutterers. The implication; forcing people out of their natural style can interfere with efficient mind-body coordination. Particularly in relation to communication. We More…
Confused about public speaking nerves? (you’re not alone)
Confusion creates fertile ground for anxiety, so it’s important to understand how public speaking nerves work. You might recognise parts of this conversation with a successful and confident senior manager. It’s similar to 100 or so conversations I’ve had about public speaking anxiety. Note the words in bold… CAM: What do you do? SM: I manage More…
Useless advice and business presentations
Have you been given any useless advice about public speaking and presentations skills? Check out this discussion between ‘Mr Rules’ and Jennifer as she prepares for a big Presentation in the boardroom… Feel free to comment.
