Question

Write a narrative essay on the situation when i overcame my fear of standing on the stage and speaking in front of large number of people. (public speaking)

words - 1500

I have to write four pages in Ms Word with double spacing so i think 1500 words would be enough.

MLA format

Answer 1

For as long as I can remember, public speaking has always been one of my greatest weaknesses. Whether it’s a simple in-class presentation or a speech in front of an auditorium filled with people, I can barely get my words out from the anxiety and stress. I’ve always admired those who seem to be able to just flow through their speeches without as much as a hint of nerves. The reason I decided to write my paper on this specific topic was to learn about different tips that people have for public speaking.

Fear of speaking in public is the most horrible condition. Fear of public speaking is a common form of anxiety. It can range from slight nervousness to paralyzing fear and panic. Many people with this fear avoid public speaking situations altogether, or they suffer through them with shaking hands and a quavering voice. But with preparation and persistence, you can overcome your fear.

Most people are not born public speakers; they are trained to become one. When they find themselves in situations where they become the focus of attention as they have to address an audience, they experience emotions like fear and anxiety, leading to nausea and excessive sweating. Most of them try to avoid situations where they have to perform or speak in public, but when unavoidable, such situations are endured by distress. According to Lucas (2011), “Many people who converse easily in all kinds of everyday situations become frightened at the idea of standing up before a group to make a speech”. Such people need to realize that they are not the only ones who may be going through these emotions; in fact, almost every speaker feels the same. It is important that people consciously realize the fact that there are more nervous speakers in the world than those who are not.

Being liked, accepted and appreciated by others is a basic human need, and since an early age, many of us have been raised to take other people’s opinions into account. So it is no surprise that we show up in the world trying to fit into someone else’s expectations. If we worry what other people think about us, we are focusing on them instead of ourselves and the message we want to deliver. We can’t control what other people feel, but we are in charge of our own feelings, thoughts and emotions.

Whether it’s planning for a speech or keeping my audience interested in the topic and inspired to know more, practice is essential! The more I dared to stand up and speak, the easier it became. Today, I start all my speeches with the intention of just doing the best I can. There is no need for perfection. I have learned how to make a mistake and get over it gracefully, instead of punishing myself.

Before I started my search, I took inventory of what I already knew about public speaking, which wasn’t much honestly. I had some idea of the basics; stand up straight, keep eye contact with the people in your audience, speak clearly. That’s all well and fine, but just simply knowing what I have to do doesn’t mean that I’m able to apply this information successfully. I need more information on different techniques and how to successfully speak in front of people without freaking out, considering my major is Elementary Education; this requires endless amounts of public speaking. The following strategies will surely help anyone to overcome fear of public speech.

These steps may help:

· Know your topic. The better you understand what you're talking about - and the more you care about the topic - the less likely you'll make a mistake or get off track. And if you do get lost, you'll be able to recover quickly. Take some time to consider what questions the audience may ask and have your responses ready.

· Get organized. Ahead of time, carefully plan out the information you want to present, including any props, audio or visual aids. The more organized you are, the less nervous you'll be. Use an outline on a small card to stay on track. If possible, visit the place where you'll be speaking and review available equipment before your presentation.

· Practice, and then practice some more. Practice your complete presentation several times. Do it for some people you're comfortable with and ask for feedback. It may also be helpful to practice with a few people with whom you're less familiar. Consider making a video of your presentation so you can watch it and see opportunities for improvement.

· Challenge specific worries. When you're afraid of something, you may overestimate the likelihood of bad things happening. List your specific worries. Then directly challenge them by identifying probable and alternative outcomes and any objective evidence that supports each worry or the likelihood that your feared outcomes will happen.

· Visualize your success. Imagine that your presentation will go well. Positive thoughts can help decrease some of your negativity about your social performance and relieve some anxiety.

· Do some deep breathing. This can be very calming. Take two or more deep, slow breaths before you get up to the podium and during your speech.

· Focus on your material, not on your audience. People mainly pay attention to new information — not how it's presented. They may not notice your nervousness. If audience members do notice that you're nervous, they may root for you and want your presentation to be a success.

· Don't fear a moment of silence. If you lose track of what you're saying or start to feel nervous and your mind goes blank, it may seem like you've been silent for an eternity. In reality, it's probably only a few seconds. Even if it's longer, it's likely your audience won't mind a pause to consider what you've been saying. Just take a few slow, deep breaths.

· Recognize your success. After your speech or presentation, give yourself a pat on the back. It may not have been perfect, but chances are you're far more critical of yourself than your audience is. See if any of your specific worries actually occurred. Everyone makes mistakes. Look at any mistakes you made as an opportunity to improve your skills.

· Get support. Join a group that offers support for people who have difficulty with public speaking. One effective resource is Toastmasters, a nonprofit organization with local chapters that focuses on training people in speaking and leadership skills.

We give a speech everyday. Whether it is for work, for a social event, and in even in our homes. When we are in a familiar place, we are at ease at conveying our thoughts and ideas. However, when our surroundings change, our confidence level drops. By gathering your thoughts beforehand, and having subject knowledge of the topic you are going to be speaking about, it lessens your chances of fear. One may think of a brilliant idea in his/her head, but be challenged in translating those thoughts onto paper. One way of overcoming your fear of public speaking, is to be prepared. Map out some ideas on a piece of paper, and come up with points that are relevant to your topic. Having jotted down a few thoughts will help summarize your major point. By doing this, you are opening your brain to more concepts of the subject matter, thus familiarizing yourself to it.

The fear of public speaking can be overcome and eliminated by learning breathing exercises. Breathing is a useful tool for relaxing and refreshing the mind as it is something that people are able to control and regulate. There are several methods for breathing exercises. Speaker can take the time to inhale and exhale before starting the speech.Taking a deep breath before start the speech can lower the speaker’s stress level and reduce anxiety. For example, stage fright can be a significant hurdle to the speaker that wanted to share the information with the audiences. Therefore, breathing can increase self-confidence and enhance the speaker’s voice to be louder. Moreover, try to breathe normally and comfortably when speaking too fast. Generally, people who are nervous will speed up their speaking instead of enunciating the sentences properly because they are trying to end the speech sooner. Focusing on breathing can not only calm the speaker but also a powerful relaxation technique for the speaker to continue the speech with better performance. Furthermore, pause and breathe between the points during the speech is another way to overcome the fear of speaking. For instance, take a breath after an idea is given out and introducing another with few second later can rebuild the speaker’s confidence and undoubtedly, it can manage and release fear. In fact, it will also sustain the physical capacity for the speaker to talk for a long time. The benefits of breathing exercises are both physical and psychological. Thus, learning to breathe naturally the benefits will be enormous for reduce the fear when they having a speech.

In conclusion, public speaking is a form of communication to share one’s thoughts to influence others. It is a need to everyone regardless for education or career purpose. Preparation is very important as good preparation can overcome one’s fear and increase their confident level towards a success performance. People will be benefited by having several keys in their pocket to overcome the fear of public speaking.