We often find ourselves in situations where we need to get our message across clearly to our audience. This may include:
meetings or presentations
interviews or other situations where we need to introduce ourselves and talk about who we are and what we do
events such as farewells, engagements, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays or funerals
And if speaking up scares you, you're not alone. Recently, I overheard a group of women discussing this fear, and they all agreed that they avoid speaking in public at all costs, even if involves introducing themselves to a wider group.
Why do we fear speaking in public?
So why do we fear public speaking so much? Well, the reasons are varied and include:
wanting to avoid feeling embarrassed, judged or laughed at by our peers
thinking we might run out of things to say
thinking we might be caught out by not knowing enough about the topic
hating the idea of being the focus of attention, with everyone staring at us
thinking we'll fail big-time and never be able to show our face again
We may also be influenced by an earlier bad experience we might have had as a child around speaking up.
Unfortunately the longer we avoid speaking in public, the deeper entrenched this fear becomes, often to our disadvantage.
So how do you overcome this fear?
Fortunately, it is possible to overcome this fear and become a confident speaker.
People often turn to the internet for tips and tricks but unfortunately this only goes so far. One of the most effective ways to overcome this fear is by working with a coach who can work with you to develop your confidence. As a coach I can offer you:
a set of tools and techniques which you can use at any time
opportunities to practice speaking in a safe environment
guidance and encouragement to try new practices and gain more confidence
coaching at a pace suited to your needs and level of confidence and experience
one-on-one coaching, either in person or online (or a combination of the two)
And it doesn't matter if you've never spoken in front of an audience before - we start at the beginning and work together to help you overcome any feelings of fear, discomfort or awkwardness you may be experiencing.
So, if you want to overcome the fear that's holding you back from speaking up, and would love to develop confidence around public speaking, contact me for a free consultation call. This call is an opportunity to discuss what you would like to achieve and how we can work together.
I really looked forward to the sessions with Robin - she is warm, approachable and non-judgemental, so I found it was easy to try out partly formed ideas without feeling awkward.
Tamsyn
Robin brought wonderful, supportive energy through her words and way of being that helped me feel comfortable to open up. She really tapped into and shared a passion for women sharing their learnings and wisdom that inspired me.
Tia
I appreciated the listening skills and acknowledgement demonstrated by Robin. She paid attention to the subject matter I was describing, and she gently guided me through the process, without feeling hurried. Robin supported me to understand the ways that physical and mental preparation and techniques can prepare me for speaking fully and authentically.
Discover your Voice
Introduction to Public Speaking
Overcome your fear of public speaking by working through various practices you can use and develop to help you gain confidence in many different speaking situations.