by Stephanie Bickel
Confidence in public speaking is what we want children to have, teens to have, and our colleagues to have. We can help teach individuals how to gain confidence. It's painful to watch someone we care about hold back their ideas because they can't overcome their fear of public speaking. This is the career killer we see over and over again. Public speaking skills are what get people promoted and advance leaders to the top of their organizations.
Why isn't confidence in public speaking the number one focus in schools and businesses?
It's because it's so personal and not completely understood. Those settings may not be best suited in teaching individuals how to improve self esteem. Follow these 3 steps to overcome your own fear of public speaking.
1. Find out why you are not confident.
Your lack of confidence is rooted in a belief system that you have been holding for a while. Have you ever wondered how to gain confidence and boost self esteem? Is it because you don't know what to say? If you want to learn how to improve self esteem, is it because you don't know how to say it? Is it because you don't want the attention? Is it because you are worried about where that attention could go? Is it because you don't want the pain of a critique?
2. Fix the mindsets that are holding you back.
Do you care about your audience? Do you believe in your expertise? Do you believe you are solving a serious problem? Do you believe you can make progress today?
3. Determine your solution.
If you want to learn how to gain confidence and boost self esteem, we can help. There are many ways to solve this. What will you do in the next 30 days to boost confidence in public speaking?
Journal before meetings about your thoughts and feeling going into a meeting.
Journal after meetings about your progress and what made that interaction great. Track your successes.
Privately record yourself and watch the playback.
Practice with a friend or loved one whose advice is always loving.
Ask your boss for the opportunity to kick off a meeting or share a short case study - make your own opportunities to practice public speaking skills.
Join a group that will require networking and give you public speaking opportunities with a group who doesn't know your past struggles in this area. If you are an auditor, maybe you get more involved with IIA. If you are in HR, go to more SHRM networking events. If you are a parent, go to more school events and practice your public speaking skills on new parents you are meeting for the first time.
Work with a master coach.
Become a speaker who can command any room. Speak by Design University is a one-of-a-kind leadership communication program. It’s the only leadership communication program in the world that gives you access to self-paced learning, group coaching and training and, most importantly, private one-on-one coaching. Learn more and register.