Control Your Public Speaking Fears

Overcome your fear of public speaking today – grab my Ebook now on Kindle for less than 1 $/£ !

All speakers need inspiration. It helps us create our talks and presentations just as much as it aids us mid-speech to find answers to questions and new ways to make our point.

But… where does inspiration live?

If you watch some public speakers you could be forgiven for thinking it lives somewhere on the ceiling – usually in a corner. It seems so many speakers gaze upwards to find some inspiration when lost for words.

It is hardly surprising we look there, especially if you follow the teachings of NLP practitioners. They say the majority of us look upwards (left or right) depending if we are recalling information or making it up. So we can conclude that there is a physiological reason why our eye contact can get broken when we gather our thoughts.

The problem with this completely natural behaviour when addressing a group is glaringly obvious. It makes us break our all important eye contact.

The solution is, however, very easy – but it does take a bit of practice as a speaker.

You need to contain your field of vision within the faces of your audience.

Move your focus from person-to-person sharing your eye-contact equally. When you need inspiration, instead of looking upwards to the corner of the room, allow your gaze to move upwards. The trick is to keep focused on the face of somebody whilst allowing your eyes to move upwards as they tend to want to do – containing the extent movement within the limit of that one person.

This does take practice.. yet it does allow you to seek inspiration, yet keep that critically important eye contact!

For personalised coaching to improve your public speaking and presentation skills – get in touch!

Please comment if this tip has helped you, or if you’d like to share your own ideas or ask a question – I’ll try to help!