3 ways to overcome your fear of public speaking

Whether you’re facing your first presentation opportunity or your fiftieth, chances are you will experience some level of apprehension.

Even seasoned professionals who have been presenting for many years must manage their nerves leading up to the event.

Fear of public speaking is a normal response—one that’s hard-wired into the human brain. That doesn’t mean you should allow sweaty palms, a shaky voice and fluttering pulse rob you of the chance to accomplish your goals for your presentation.

Read on to learn about A.R.M. (acknowledge, reframe, manage), my three-step process for dealing with pre-show jitters. Whatever your level of experience with public speaking, following these steps will help you minimize nerves and project confidence:

Step 1: Acknowledge your response.

When your knees are shaking before you step up to speak, it helps if you understand the natural source of your anxiety: human biology.

When our ancestors faced a risk, it was often life-threatening and required a shot of adrenaline to survive. Unfortunately, today that “fight or flight” response still manifests itself in risky (but not deadly) situations such as giving a speech. The adrenaline creates those physical symptoms that exaggerate everything you are experiencing.