It took me a long time overcome and manage my fears. Yes, I do this for a living, and I still get butterflies in my stomach. The difference between me now and when I first started, is I’ve managed to get those butterflies to really calm down.
How did I do it?
I subscribe to the mantra that Confidence comes from Competence. Naturally, experience helps too.
The key is, with experience and competence, I’ve managed to create a structured system on how to start and deliver, and reduce the uncertainty I face when I’m on stage.
Certainty is key to confidence. If you’re not sure about what to expect, then you’ll naturally be scared (of the unknown).
So, the best way to learn, in my opinion, is to not only learn about what works, but also to put it into practice.
That’s because, the more you experience it, the more you internalize it – and you realize that it’s really not so bad at all.
PS: I won over 25 Public Speaking Awards in the first 5 years of my public speaking journey. The skill is always work in progress. It doesn’t mean that you have to be perfect when you start. Neither should you deem yourself as terrible and hopeless if you can’t speak.
We’ve all got to start somewhere. The sooner we start, the better!
#publicspeaking #fear #uncertainty #confidence #experience
The Shy Speakers' Guide to Success 