Overcoming Nervousness in Public Speaking

My friend, Didik, used to get nervous and trembling when he spoke in front of the public. Ten years ago, when we took the same study in Sanata Dharma University, he tended to avoid every public speaking activity.

In 2005, I met him in a seminar, conducted by direct selling company. He worked for operational department of the company and he was in charge as an MC in that seminar. I was surprised to see his deportment skill as an MC. I saw he got great improvement.

After the seminar, I asked him whether he still got nervous and how he overcame that problem. Then, Didik gave me the following tips:

1. Make sure that you have prepare for the topics and what you will say. That is why you need to practice, practice, and practice.
2. Do not fight against nervousness or fear. Try to deal with it, instead. Try these two kinds of breathing exercises. The first exercise is by controlling your breathing and visualize that you speak confidently. Inhale deeply and slowly, then exhale slowly. Do this exercise at least 6 times. The second exercise is vipasana method. In the first exercise, you try to control your breath and visualize your confidence whereas in the second exercise you do not need to control your breath and visualize. You just need to be aware of your breath and your feeling. Pay attention to your breath. Be aware of the air flow when you exhale and inhale naturally. Do not try make it slow or fast breathing. If it is slow and deep, just let it and feel it. If it is fast, just let it be and feel it. Do not do any effort to control the speed. Then, be aware of your feeling. If there were fear and nervousness, just feel and be aware of their existence. Feel and be aware of your heartbeat and breathing when you nervous. Pay attention to them and smile. The vipasana exercise is also commonly used in Reiki.
3. The breathing exercises in the first point is to prepare something inside. However, you need to activate function of your body to overcome nervousness. Do “push up” exercise before you speak in front or push the wall with your two hands by using the weight of your body, like “push up” exercise. This exercise make you feel more confidence.
4. If you are afraid to see the audiences' eyes, see their forehead

There are many ways to overcome fear in public speaking, but I hope these tips may help you.