Joel Comm's Blog, page 32

7 Things You Can Do to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking

It’s commonly believed that the greatest fear common to humans is the fear of public speaking. Surprisingly, more people are afraid of standing before an audience than of dying–though I suppose the reason many are afraid is that they believe they will die on stage, at least metaphorically. The symptoms of glossophobia can include intense anxiety leading to fight-or-flight sensations as well as physiological reactions, which may include nausea or panic attacks. It’s safe to say that reactions from all across the spectrum are quite common. But are there ways to overcome your fear and sleep well the night before you are to deliver a speech? In my 10 years as a professional speaker, I’ve experienced the gamut of emotional and physical reactions prior to taking the stage. While some have suggested that you imagine your audience being naked, I think that might actually be an unhelpful distraction. However, along the way I’ve discovered a few things that I believe may be helpful for anyone and keeps your audience fully clothed. 1. Remember that it’s not about you. It’s about your content. Unless you are already a big celebrity, people are coming to hear your content. When you stress out on how well you are going to perform, you are putting the focus on yourself rather than your audience. Remember the reason you are giving a talk. In all likelihood, it is to teach, inspire, or entertain (or some combination of the three). It’s not about you. Your audience is counting on you to deliver value. Simply give the people what they want. 2. Shake some hands before your talk. I find it calming to visit with audience members before I speak. I’ll shake hands, introduce myself and thank people for coming. The familiarity of friendly faces, warm smiles, and human contact can have a calming effect. There’s something about humanizing your audience that makes them less intimidating. Unless you are speaking to a hostile audience, odds are people are eager to hear what you have to say. 3. Keep in mind that you’re the only one who knows. While you may not have slept the night before (or for an entire week prior to your speech), your audience doesn’t know it. They are simply looking forward to what you have to share. The truth is that most people can’t tell that you are nervous or afraid. And if you do show signs of anxiety by stammering or forgetting what you were about to say, recognize that your audience is pulling for you. Most people don’t enjoy watching a train wreck. There’s nothing wrong with saying, “I forgot where I was going with this.” A polite audience member will probably gently remind you, and then you may continue. 4. It’s OK to not be perfect. Even presidents make mistakes when they speak. When they do, it often makes headlines. But no one is going to remember your mistakes. It’s OK to be human and not get it completely perfect. Relax and go with the flow. And if you do put your foot in your mouth, it’s completely appropriate and endearing to be self-deprecating about your faux pas. I find when I laugh at myself that the audience laughs with me, making it even easier to continue. 5. Audiences are made up of people just like you. Whether you’re speaking before a small group of 10 or a massive audience of 10,000, recognize that all audiences are essentially the same. They are just people, many of whom suffer from the same fear of public speaking. Applaud yourself for having the courage to overcome your fear and believe that you leave the stage having accomplished your goal. 6. Be gracious with yourself. Most people are much harder on themselves than others are with them. Go easy on yourself, physically and emotionally. Get plenty of rest the night before your talk, have a good meal, and let it go. Unless your speech is truly a matter of life or death, recognize that you are embarking on a unique experience and that you are going to give it your best. Don’t ask more of yourself than anyone would ask of you. Just be yourself and you’ll be brilliant. 7. Your passion, knowledge, and experience can carry the day. You will be speaking because you have something important to share. If you know what you are talking about, allow your passion for, and your knowledge of, your subject matter to be the driving force. Even as I hear my introduction happening, I make a conscious effort to get out of my own way so that my reason for being on stage won’t be obscured by my own needs. There’s one more thing I’ve observed from the hundreds of talks I have delivered over the years. When I look out into the audience and see blank faces staring back at me, I used to think that I had completely lost people. But what I’ve discovered is those “blank” faces are actually people locked in on me and hanging on my every word. Being invited to present to any audience is an honor and a privilege. It’s social proof that there is an interest in your expertise. Allow that privilege to help you place your fear behind you so that your audience can learn, be inspired and/or have a few laughs. I believe you’ll find it rewarding. Originally posted on Inc.com

The Top 5 Things You Can Learn from a 17-Year Old Success Story – Episode #28

While at Matt Bacak’s “Meeting of the Minds” event in Atlanta, I had the opportunity to meet 17-year old Temper Thompson. Motivated and brilliant, Temper has built a significant business online. In episode #28 of The Top 5 Scope, Temper shares his top five tips for success.

Top 5 Ways to Start a Presentation – Episode #27

As a professional speaker, I’ve discovered that the hardest part of starting a talk can be the beginning itself. In episode #27 of The Top 5 Scope, I’m joined by speaking coach, Felicia Slattery, as we discuss the top five ways to start a presentation.

Top 5 Things I Do to Stay Healthy – Episode #26

Today’s technology lifestyle can be very sedentary for those of us who live behind a computer. In episode #26 of The Top 5 Scope, I share my top five things that I do to stay healthy. See if these work for you!

Top 5 Tips for Podcasting – Episode #25

Podcasting is a great way to create and share your content. In episode #25 of The Top 5 Scope, I’m joined by seasoned podcaster, Michael O’Neal, host of The Solopreneur Hour. We discuss the top five tips for successful podcasting.

Ask an Internet Millionaire Anything – The Joel Comm Show with Armand Morin

I met Armand Morin back in 2006 at his Internet marketing event, Big Seminar. Since then, our paths have crossed many times and he is undoubtedly one of the smartest and most successful marketers I’ve ever met. In this episode of The Joel Comm Show, I seized the opportunity to interview Armand on Blab.im. And many viewers got to ask Armand questions as well.

My Top 5 Desk Toys – Episode #24

I love being surrounded by desktop toys. You know, the things that distract you from getting things done. In episode #24 of The Top 5 Scope, I share my Top five desk toys with you. Let’s play!

10 Reasons iFart Should Be on Every iPhone

It’s been five years since the now infamous iFart Mobile has had an update. And now, with the release of iFart: Second Wind, we celebrate the impact that this novelty application has had on the world with an infographic. We think you’ll enjoy the 10 reasons that iFart should be on every iPhone (and iPad and iPod…) To download iFart Second Wind for free, click here!

Top 5 Worst Kinds of Facebook Status Updates – Episode #23

Facebook is probably my favorite social network for engaging with family, friends and fans. But there are some kinds of posts which drive me crazy! In episode #23 of The Top 5 Scope, I share the top five WORST kinds of Facebook posts. What would you add to this list?

How to Create Dynamic, Online, Rich Media Presentations with Knovio Pro

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Knovio for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. I’ve been creating presentations for online delivery since webinar software first became available. And I’ve been doing online video since 2006. So I’m always looking out for new tools that will allow me to share my content and present it in an increasingly rich media world. I recently came across Knovio Pro and had a chance to kick the tires on it. I’ve got to say, it’s a pretty impressive suite of tools! Simply register for a free trial account and click to start creating your presentation. You’ll need to configure you microphone and camera to work with Knovio. It’s completely painless. There are really just three easy steps to make beautiful presentations with Knovio. First, upload any slides you want to share. I opted to share five of my own social tiles which I call “Social Poetry.” Knovio supports PowerPoint animations, so the tool could provide an alternative to PowerPoint or Keynote. You don’t have to use slides if you don’t want. You can just use the webcam to record your presentation. Next, hit ‘Record’ to begin sharing your audio or video for the presentation. I like that the recorded video comes up next to the slide so you can see both at the same time. If you make a mistake in your recording, simply re-record it until you are satisfied.  Easy! Once your presentation is complete, you can export it in hi-defintion 1080p and share it via email, social media or to a website. That’s it! Knovio Pro lets you create unlimited presentations which are available 24/7 from anywhere in the world.  I like that you can have a presentation in draft mode and come back to it whenever you are ready. And while I didn’t use any of their custom templates, there is a full library of premade options at your disposal. I see many potential uses for Knovio Pro. While I used it to share some of my personal ideas on social media, it is applicable to explain a concept, sell a product or service, teach a course, document travels, illustrate how to do something, be a storyteller or any other number of creative uses. Instead of using traditional presentation tools like PowerPoint or Keynote, you might want to give Knovio Pro a try. Here is my brief first-run at a Knovio Pro presentation that was created in just a few minutes. Could you see yourself using Knovio Pro? How? And what features do you think you would enjoy the most? Please leave your comments in the form below! Try Knovio Pro