Public speaking is not something I particularly enjoy, and I often dread assignments that require presenting in front of a large crowd. However, I recognise the importance of public speaking, as it is a useful skill when it comes to career prospects and an unavoidable aspect of working life.
People have varying needs when it comes to methods, attached below are links to a few articles written by certified people that I found particularly helpful:
Here are some ways I find helpful for overcoming my presentation anxiety, which may also be beneficial for some of you:
Participate to familiarise:
I realised I did better at presentations in classes where I was well-familiarised with the people in my class (my friends and professor). Comparatively, in classes where I did not verbally participate as much throughout the semester, it was difficult to be in the spotlight all of a sudden when presenting.
Now I make efforts to familiarise myself better with the professor and peers around me and as a result, when I present, It is easier to look at those familiar faces I have interacted with frequently rather than strangers I only encountered once.
Be well-informed:
Even though occasionally there are subjects that do not align with my personal interests, I make an effort to explore and identify aspects within the topic that could grab my interest.
However, at the end of the day, being well-informed on the topic outweighs one’s personal interest. And what matters is that I do enough research on the topic to be confident enough to sound informed on what I say.
When I have conducted comprehensive research and feel informationally prepared, I am able to better articulate my thoughts effectively during the presentation, despite other signs of nervousness.
Either disregard or accept negative thoughts:
My ultimate strategy is to either ignore or accept the negative “what if?” thoughts. I accept them by acknowledging that even with the slim chances of them coming true, if it comes true, it would have already happened and I can deal with it then.
While presentation anxiety is a common challenge, it is not something impossible to deal with! The more you face the challenge and implement techniques, the gradual process will make the spotlight less daunting. I have started taking the opportunity to speak publicly as a chance to work on the skill and share my knowledge with people in the room.
