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Author:
Steven Harold

One of the most popular issues than anyone can have is the fear of speaking in public. In fact surveys have revealed that in the US this is the biggest fear of Americans.

Public speaking as such can refer to many differing events in which a person has to speak to more than one person. So anytime someone speaks to a group of two or more people this can be considered to be public speaking. This is also when, for many people, their fear or phobia is at its worse.

Now as with any phobia or fear, there are different aspects to it for different people. One person might relish a work meeting when everyone is seated around a table but as soon as they need to stand up and address the same group of people their fear can materialise. For another person used to training groups of people, and there fore standing up in front of them, their public speaking fear might be having to give that best man's speech.

Generally though the symptoms most often experienced by someone who has a fear of public speaking are:

1) Rapid heart beat
2) Shallow breathing
3) Dry mouth
4) Shaking hands
5) Tension in the jaw muscles
6) Loss of memory about what they wanted to say
7) Their voice becomes strained and has a higher pitch
8) Nausea
9) Wanting to run away
10) Loss of sleep

Any or all of the above can happen to a person. They may also have gone through various avoidance strategies beforehand in order to find a way out of having to speak.

Often the biggest problem is the person's ability to think and imagine the worse possible outcome of their speech. In imagining that their speech is going to be a disaster they naturally become tense and stressed and do not have a good time.

Where a good public speaking hypnosis cd can help is in using the power of the imagination for and not against, the person. The imagination is used to see themselves succeeding and giving a great speech.

Interestingly enough, most people who do deliver their speech will get feelings of euphoria mixed with relief at the end of it. They most often feel confident and may even decide that they could do that speech again.

Here is the secret to feeling calm and relaxed with public speaking then. Using your imagination for you and not against you and practise. You more you do something, the more it becomes second nature and the more confident you will feel.

Steven Harold
Clinical Hypnotherapist
Help with Public Speaking

| Article Keywords: Professional Speaker

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Professional Speaker... Murphy's Law: How Speakers Can Prepare for the Unexpected "Anything that can go wrong, will"- Murphy's Law Public speaking may still be the number one fear but it's not just speaking that scares people. Many speakers are afraid of what can go wrong-once they're already on the platform. Sooner or later you'll come face-to-face with Murphy. So your best offense is a good defense. Anticipate Problems-Step one to ensuring a successful presentation is to anticipate what could go wrong. What's your worst nightmare? Technology failure? Travel delay? Bad weather? You forgot your presentation? You didn't pack your shoes? Identify everything that could possibly go wrong. Have an Action Plan-Once you identify the roadblocks come up with a contingency plan. Your approach may be different from another speaker's. Decide the right course of action for you in each situation. Plan for the worst. Travel glitches-Never check your presentation materials. Carry them with you. Send an email attachment of your presentation to the meeting planner so that you always have another copy on file. Choose a back-up speaker to take your place in case of an emergency-preferably somebody who is nearby. The show must go on even if you never arrive. You will preserve your reputation if you can supply the names of substitute speakers. Caught with your pants down-One woman was giving a speech behind the lectern when suddenly her half slip fell to her ankles. She didn't know what to do so with great aplomb she stepped out of it and kept talking. Recently, I arrived at my destination on a Sunday night only to discover that I forgot my shoes. In a panic, I asked the hotel clerk for the nearest store. Only the local K Mart was open. Luckily I found one pair of black shoes in my size for only $6.00! I made a joke about it to the class which broke the ice. A...