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Take away the fear of public speakingby Graham JonesA recent survey has revealed that more people would rather go bungee jumping than give a presentation. A whopping great 87% of people said that speaking in public is the most frightening thing they can imagine. Now either most people don't have much of an imagination, or speaking in public really does fill most of us with dread.
Yet giving a presentation or a speech is easy. It is the most natural thing in the world because all you are doing is talking to someone. That's something we've been able to do with ease since we were two years old. Yet, when we have to face more than a handful of people we freeze. Indeed, it is said that the human brain is a highly efficient organ that works perfectly around the clock and only ceases to function properly when we stand up to make a presentation.
The problem is one of attitude. Most presenters seem to think that the audience is simply there to be critical of their performance. Yet audiences are only critical of bad presentations because they are so obviously awful. Most presenters are not bad and the audience is there to gain information or knowledge. So don't assume the audience is out to get you - it isn't.
Another attitude problem is the fact that many presenters view the audience as a single entity of a swathing mass. Believing that the audience is such an immense object can be off putting. But remember this: not one person in the audience is watching you with anyone else's eyes, nor are they listening with another set of ears. Every member of the audience is listening and watching on their own. You are therefore only really talking to one person at a time. If you imagine you are having a conversation, not only will you come across better, but you will be more confident. Conversations are easy since you are well practiced at them.
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Graham Jones is available to the media for comment
Graham Jones is available for comment and quoting in articles and on broadcasts. He is a regular contributor to a variety of media and can talk to you about any aspect of human communication.
Contact him on: 0118 336 9712 |
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