One of the most common times people feel anxious
at work (after getting called in to see the boss)
is at meetings where you are expected to speak
up in front of many others. 
Generally these type of work meetings involve a
group of people sitting around taking it in 
turns to speak. Most people anxious about speaking 
in public dread their turn and hope some divine 
intervention will save them from having to speak at all.
To get around this try the opposite approach. 
Pretend to yourself and the group that you are 
actually dying to speak. Before you enter the
room, say to yourself "I'm going to speak at 
any reasonable opportunity that presents itself"
-Be positively itching to speak!
-Before the meeting kicks off, talk to everyone
 around you. Don’t sit there in silence.
-If you have a short presentation to make and 
you don’t like the idea of having to do it in 
one go, break it up by asking those present 
questions during your talk. This puts the focus 
back on the group and can help you feel less under pressure.
-If everyone has to speak, it can really take 
the pressure off to be first up but if you can’t 
be first then start asking questions of the other
speakers when they are finished if that is appropriate.
Come across as really interested and engaged. Give 
the impression to the room that you want to speak 
and to be heard. Speaking up works because the anxiety
only gets worse if you sit there in total silence
waiting to be called upon. Don't wait for them to
call you -speak out.
If you take the above advice on board and it does come
to your turn to speak, you won't feel the same level 
of pressure because everyone in the room is already
used to your voice and you don't feel the pressure 
of hearing your voice for the first time in the room. 
Everyone is used to you and you are used to speaking to them.
Great speakers love an opportunity to talk and present. 
Believe it or not but you can train yourself to be like 
that and it starts by pretending to yourself that you 
really want that opportunity to be in the lime light. 
Be hungry for it.
Instead of holding back and resisting the opportunity 
to speak in public, you chase after it! 
You might think "fine but how can I try this out before
my next meeting?"
The best way I know of is to join a Toastmaster group in 
your area (google it) and get started there right away. 
If there is no toastmaster group locally find a public
meeting or volunteer for something like a research group where
you all discuss a topic together. 
There are lots of places to practice. Dive in, speak up

 
 
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