“The retirement planning company I work for has just started holding seminars where various strategies are discussed with an audience of usually 50 or so people. The problem is stage fright. I have been reading your column for years and know you are a trial attorney, did some research and found several articles in the ABA Banking Journal on presentation skills – including overcoming stage fright – by Dennis Beaver. Is that you? Any tips or books on public speaking that you can recommend would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, ‘Gary.'”
Yes, that’s me
Before attending law school, I planned to become a university speech teacher and earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech/communication. After becoming a lawyer, I applied these qualifications, taught speech at our community college and, for many years, presentation skills for banks at the Graduate School of Banking. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison every August.
A week before the August session, I phoned each of the bankers in my class, learning why they were taking public speaking courses and what specific problems they needed to address. Among other problems, many reported that they had problems with stage fright! To advance their professional identity must go a better speaker. The materials were given to us by the class.
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Performance anxiety/stage fright is real
Fear of death is the second most common anxiety disorder (opens in a new tab).
As a result of your body releasing too much adrenaline, symptoms before and during the presentation include a racing heart, shaking hands, an eagle flapping its wings in your stomach, all of which lead to the feeling that something is about to happen. bad things happen.
After that, “I’m physically exhausted and exhausted and glad it’s over,” is a common comment I hear, along with, “I know they just think I’m desperate and crazy.” me.”
The amazing thing about stage fright is that the audience can’t see how offensive a speaker really is – if not You are doing the wrong thing and showing fear. However, if the person seems to enjoy speaking in front of a group, their confidence and effectiveness increases.
How to get over stage fright
No matter how worried you are inside, your audience won’t know if you don’t show it through those emotions. strict behavior – standing motionless with outstretched arms and hands, clinging to the platform for dear life – or blocking action — voice that doesn’t make sense, speaking too quietly or too much “and … uhs.”
In the classroom, I ask all those who suffer from severe anxiety to raise their hands, and with one student I go around and have a normal conversation – about his work, his family, his children – just light talk. At one point I take her hand, and we walk forward, still having this wonderful conversation.
I drew back, but still talking to the student, I soon left him alone, engaged in a pleasant little discussion with me — about everything of the moment. So I turned to the class and asked, “How is he?” I heard Tony the Tiger’s response from Kellogg’s: “Good!” And I ask him, “How do you feel?” “BIG!” another one
“What did we just prove?” I am asking.
“That’s what’s in your head!” is the class response. The student admitted that at first he was very nervous, afraid to be seen, and then he began to enjoy our little experiment.
Ways to reduce or mask anxiety symptoms
1. Be the first person in the room. We feel more comfortable talking to people we know, and the way to do that is by being the first person in the room. By introducing yourself to a small audience when they arrive, it creates a positive impression. “Wasn’t that fun? The speaker actually approached me, introduced himself, and we talked about his subject,” they said. Your anxiety level will decrease.
2. You don’t have to open your presentation with a funny story. If you have a suitable funny story, use it, but if you are someone who can’t tell a joke, don’t audition Saturday Night Live in front of this audience.
3. Think discussionno words. The audience likes to engage in discussion with the speaker, so consider opening your talk with answerable questions. “How many of you worry about financing (kids’ college education, retirement, etc.)?” Look for a raised hand. Then, with a hand gesture that makes it clear that you want it that’s it someone to explain, to ask, “Betty, please tell me your concerns.”
4. Use the closet to hide all your worries. Feeling an impending earthquake? Just place your hands on the platform or the edge of the table. No one will see them move.
To get a good view, walk around the room, but don’t walk too fast. The audience will follow you with their eyes, and you will be visible to everyone who doesn’t try.
5. Don’t rely on visual aids — they won’t work for you! Keep the conversation going! Create ideas in the show. Visual aids are just that — aids — and often fail at the worst of times. Remember that your audience is not a collection of digital audio recordings—they don’t remember everything—so make it a point to review the material you covered.
6. Really want to be successful? Distribute the handout at the beginning of your talk or start speaking, if food is served, as everyone cuts the steak. Handing out handouts at the beginning of your talk can ensure that your talk will not be completely forgotten, as your audience will be absorbed in the material instead of listening. Handouts are best distributed at the end. And if you’re speaking at a dinner or lunch, let everyone eat before you start your speech, because the food is far more important than anything you’re going to say.
Here are two great resources for more help: What to say when … You die on stage by Lilly Walters and The Dos and Don’ts of Public Speaking: How to Let Those Butterflies Fly by Roger E. Axtell. Both are available on Amazon.
Dennis Beaver practices law in Bakersfield, Calif., and welcomes comments and questions from readers, which can be faxed to (661) 323-7993, or sent by email. [email protected]. And don’t forget to visit dennisbeaver.com.
This article was written by and represents the opinion of our contributing advisors, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can see the SEC rate in the chart if you are close to the selected date (opens in a new tab) or with FINRA (opens in a new tab).
