Do you ever wonder what it would feel like to be on a stage in front of thousands of people, all eyes on you while giving a speech, and you absolutely nail it without even breaking a sweat? The fear of public speaking is huge and very common in adolescents to older adults. Fortunately, there is an easy trick to help overcome this fear, which is very useful for any type of speaker: visualization.
You’re probably asking yourself right now, "What does it mean to visualize when speaking and how can I achieve it?” Visualization is a method of turning the scenario I just mentioned – speaking at a rally without any hesitation – into reality. This is done through imagining, or visualizing, what it is you want to achieve in your speech.
The first step to successful visualization is pointing out a speaker you want to emulate, a president or movie star, for example. Next, watch a few videos of that person speaking in front of a few people or in front of a large audience. Pay attention to their tone, body language and rate of speech. Then, practice your speech using the pointers you learned from watching your ideal speaker – try and mimic their presentation style.
When it comes time to give your speech, visualize that you are that person. Imagine your speech is going to be the best presentation you have ever given and your audience has ever seen. Picture the person you are trying to be sitting in the audience and loving every word that comes out of your mouth. Pretend he or she is grading you, and at the end, you know you will pass with flying colors.
Part of the reason public speaking is so widely feared is because of the negative thoughts people conjure up prior to taking the stage. What if I say something stupid? What if I run out of breath? What if I stumble saying my words? What if I start to sweat uncontrollably? What if I forget what I’m saying? Public speaking anxiety is the effect of all these negative thoughts percolating together in your head. If you erase those thoughts and replace them with visualizations of you hitting your speech out of the park and emulating one of your favorite speakers, you will be shocked at how fast this fear will dissipate.
Visualize speaking successfully – this will catapult your presentation to a level that you never thought you could achieve. Remember, no one is perfect, and even your speaking idol fumbles from time to time.
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