6 Tips to Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking

 

Public speaking is one of the most feared activities, ranking higher than heights or flying. Many people worry that they will forget their speech, choke on the words, or be too anxious to get through it all. However, there are ways you can overcome this fear and come out a winner! Here are six tips for overcoming public speaking anxiety.

1) Prepare your speech ahead of time.

You’ll reduce the amount of stress if you know exactly what you’re going to say before you go up on stage. Practice your speech at least three times before giving it live so that you can iron out any kinks and make sure it flows appropriately without sounding too rehearsed. Create bullet points on paper with essential information so that you can glance down to find the right words when need be.

Being prepared will help to reduce nervousness while speaking and make you appear more confident.

2) Keep your hands in your pockets.

Hands are a massive giveaway for nervousness. If you have them stuffed in your pockets, it is less likely that people will notice any shaking or sweating you may be experiencing. If there’s nothing else you can do, make sure you stand with your hands straight down your legs instead of behind your back.

Another option is to keep your hands folded together and set them before you while speaking. This will give you a sense of control while speaking and help you to remain composed.

Learning to use gestures is essential, but first, you need to feel comfortable speaking.

3) Avoid eye contact.

Many people recommend that you look into the audience when you speak, but this makes some people more nervous because you’re staring at them like a deer in headlights. If it helps to look away from the audience, do so. It’s more important that you focus on your speech and not get caught up in what everyone thinks about you.

One technique is to look over everyone's head and look at the back wall. It gives the illusion that you're making eye contact with everyone.

Eventually, you'll need to learn to look people in the eye while speaking to them. But, you can learn this over time.

4) Take a deep breath.

When you feel anxious, take a deep breath in and hold it for a few seconds. This will help to calm your nerves and clear your head. It’s also a good idea to exhale slowly to release any extra tension you may be feeling.

Taking a deep breath when you're nervous can help regulate your heart rate and calm you down. As you feel your heart rate increase, slow yourself down by taking a deep breath.

5) Use positive self-talk.

When you start to feel panicky, tell yourself that everything will be okay. Remind yourself of your strengths and how well you have prepared for this speech. Positive self-talk can help quiet the inner critic and put you in a more confident state of mind.

Examples of positive self-talk could include:

• "I know I can do it."
• "I am prepared, and people want to hear what I have to say."
• "I am in control."
• "I am relaxed and ready to go."

If you are appropriately prepared, trust yourself. You can do this!

6) Visualize success.

Before you go on stage, visualize yourself giving a flawless speech that everyone enjoys. See yourself confidently speaking and engaging with the audience. This will help put you in a positive frame of mind and increase your belief in your ability to succeed.

Believing in yourself is crucial when speaking because it will help you feel better about your presentation. While you may feel very nervous, the audience won't realize how nervous you are. Just think about that!

Conclusion

Public speaking is one of the most challenging yet rewarding activities you can do in life. However, it is also an activity that many people fear. Some people experience public speaking anxiety because of this fear.

If public speaking is something you struggle with, don’t worry too much! Instead, focus on the six great tips listed here for overcoming public speaking anxiety so you can come out a winner.

8 Benefits of Using Email That Can Ultimately Save You Time

It's no secret that using email can be time-consuming. There are times when it feels like we're drowning in a sea of messages.

However, using email is still one of the most flexible and convenient methods for communication, despite predictions that other tools would soon replace it.

In this article, I'll discuss eight benefits of using email that can help you get more done and ultimately save you time.

1. Email is flexible.

Email provides the flexibility of using text-based messages without sacrificing the convenience of using programs with all their bells and whistles.

For example, you can easily include attachments, add formatting to your messages, and create separate folders to help keep you organized.

2. Email is convenient.

Email is one of the most convenient communication methods.

You can access it from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection, and you can quickly reply to messages on the go.

3. You can't ignore an email.

Unlike some other forms of communication, such as social media notifications, you can't ignore email notifications without risking missing an important message. While email may go unchecked for a day or two, eventually, it will be seen. 

This makes email an excellent way to ensure instant communication.

4. Email is easy to track.

Another benefit of using email is that all your incoming messages are in one place, making it easy to stay organized and track the information you need.

For instance, filters can help you label specific emails or sort them into folders for quick retrieval later.

5. Email is great for long-distance communication.

Email is an excellent way to communicate with people located in different parts of the world.

You can easily include attachments, and because email messages are text-based, they're often easier to understand than voice or video messages.

6. Email is perfect for task-based communication.

Email is an excellent way to communicate with others when sharing specific information or instructions.

For example, you can use email to send task reminders, job postings, meeting agendas, and more.

7. Email can save you time on customer service.

Email is often the best tool for handling customer service inquiries.

You can respond right away, and using a standard reply will ensure you always have your responses on hand if a similar question is asked multiple times.

8. Email enables quick collaboration.

Lastly, email is great for when you need to collaborate with others in real-time or work on a specific task together.

For example, using a shared email address allows multiple parties to respond and contribute to an email conversation.

You can also use instant messaging with Gmail's chat function or Google Hangouts for real-time collaboration on the go.

Conclusion

Email continues to be a workhorse because of its flexibility and convenience.

Whether you're communicating with people in different parts of the world or need to handle customer service inquiries, email is often the best tool for the job.

I've discussed eight benefits of using email that can ultimately save you time in this article.

Do you have any tips on how to use email more efficiently? Please share them in the comments below!

How to Effectively Communicate in the Workplace

 

Introduction

The workplace has always been a place where people need to communicate effectively. The internet age has only made that more true.

You need to communicate with your boss, co-workers, vendors, and customers every day to get things done. But we all know how hard it can be at times!

So how can we communicate effectively in the workplace?

The importance of communication in the workplace

The power of communication is often overlooked in the workplace, but it is truly imperative to the success of any business.

Communication begins with understanding your audience and making sure they understand you. You can’t expect someone to listen if you are not making yourself clear. Listen carefully to what others are saying to you and try to understand where they are coming from, even if you disagree.

Understanding the importance of communication is vital to succeeding in the workplace.

It is essential for business relations and the connections you build with those you work closely with. Without this critical foundation, your company will lack a cohesive means of communicating to their employees and clients, leading to confusion and potentially devastating errors.

Recognizing and overcoming barriers to effective communication

To be effective communicators in the workplace, we need to be aware of any potential barriers that might stand in our way. Here are three tips for recognizing and overcoming these barriers:

1. Be aware of your own emotions and reactions

When we're upset or angry, it can be challenging to communicate effectively. We may not think straight, and we might say things we regret. So it's essential to take a step back and control our emotions before communicating with others.

2. Pay attention to the other person's body language

If someone is crossing their arms or turning away from you, they're probably not interested in what you have to say. So to read the other person's body language, you need to be aware of their nonverbal cues.

3. Use active listening

When you're actually paying attention to the other person and not just waiting for your turn to speak, they'll feel like you're really listening to them. This will make them more likely to be receptive to what you have to say.

Effective ways to communicate with your boss, co-workers, vendors, and customers

When it comes to communication in the workplace, it's important to be aware of the different types of communication. There are four basic types of communication: verbal, nonverbal, written, and electronic.

To be effective when communicating with your boss, co-workers, vendors, or customers, you need to be aware of the type of communication that's taking place and adapt your message accordingly.

• Verbal communication is the most common type of communication and occurs when we speak to others. To be effective when speaking, it's important to use clear and concise language and ensure that your tone is respectful.
• Nonverbal communication occurs when we communicate through body language. To send a positive message nonverbally, you need to keep eye contact and use open body postures.
• Written communication occurs when we write an email or send a text message. For written communication to be effective, it's vital to ensure that any instructions are clear and concise and that any tone is respectful.
• Electronic communication occurs when we send a voicemail or leave a message on someone's phone. For electronic communication to be effective, it's crucial to ensure that the tone reflects your respectfulness.

Managing these different types of communication will allow you to be more effective in your work.

Conclusion

Communication is the lifeblood of any organization, and it's crucial in a workplace where people are often juggling many different types of communication at once.

It can be challenging to recognize barriers that might stand in your way when communicating with others - but by paying attention to these three tips, you'll have better success overcoming them!

Which type of communication do you struggle most with? Let us know so we can dive deeper into how this impacts your business goals.