Voice Dynamic Newsletter

Why Controlling Your Nervousness Is Better Than Eliminating It!

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in this issue

Controlling Nervousness

Know Your Material

Greetings!

While researching information on the internet regarding nervousness and public speaking, I have been overwhelmed with the number of companies offering hypnosis as a means of combatting fear.  In the article below, I discuss why putting a stop to your nervousness is not the answer.

Controlling Nervousness 

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The true secret in dealing with nervousness, anxiety, fear, panic, or whatever words you use to describe the trepidation you feel in public speaking is not to stop it but to learn how to control it. 

Nervousness is excellent.  It's that extra spurt of adrenaline that can take a ho-hum presentation and make it dynamic. 

I question those who offer hypnosis as a 'cure' for fear of public speaking because these people are telling the consumer that the 'butterflies', the jitters, the fear will be gone, adding that your heart won't beat faster.

I beg to differ.  If you're heart isn't beating faster when you get up to speak, then I don't want to hear you.   

Some years ago, a client of mine disagreed with me on this subject.  She felt nervousness was bad.  If I had been quick, I would have responded that her lack of nervousness was probably the reason she had had only 4 bookings in the few years she had been in business as a 'professional' speaker!

The world-renowned contralto, Maureen Forrester, was interviewed on 60 Minutes back in the '90's and was asked if she ever wished she had been a stay-at-home mom.  Forrester, the mother of five, responded that every time she walked on stage, she wished she was a stay-at-home mom!  Imagine, one of the greatest singers of all times, making (at that time) $40,000 per performance, and she was nervous.  Most great musicians, singers, athletes, and performers are nervous.  And they know the value of it!

So, stop looking to end your fear.  Learn how to control it and use it to your advantage...

Click here to see how Voicing It! can put you in control!

Know Your Material 

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There are 5 secrets to controlling nervousness in public speaking and the 1st is to know your material.  You may think that sounds silly, but you would be surprised how many people tell me that they weren't prepared.

My question is, How Could You Not Be Prepared?  You have no right to get up and speak if you're not prepared.  That is your homework; and, unless you're exceptionally good at winging it, don't try it. 

The secret is to practice your speech or your presentation out loud.  That is where so many people fail.  They create the speech, read over it a few times, and think they're done.  If that's the way you do it, then you are done, and you have lost the battle.

The written word and the spoken word are two different animals.  In speaking your presentation out loud, you will discover that some of what you have written reads very well but it doesn't sound good out loud; i.e., it doesn't flow well. 

Record yourself and play it back.  If you have a camcorder by all means use it because you may discover something in seeing yourself on video that you were unaware of.  If you are unable to record yourself, have a friend or a spouse sit in and listen to you.  Feedback is very valuable in public speaking.