Is fear of public speaking holding you back?
Here are five tips to improve the way you feel in any situation.
“I am thinking of giving up on speaking at conferences, it terrifies me”
Jennie, a Tax advisor is an expert in her field. She knows she offers a valuable, unique and bespoke service to her clients. She is a respected employee of the accountants firm she has been with for a few years. In fact, being such a high flyer in terms of her niche area, she is called on to share her expertise regularly.
This doe-eyed, fresh faced petite young lady stood in front of the committed group at my Speaking and Presenting with Confidence workshop last week looking very fragile, visibly shaking, rolling her hands together, looking up, down and rarely at us, and sounding like an Australian (no offence to Australians) as every sentence she said had an upward inflection at the end.
We were all rooting for her!
But all we saw and sensed was nervousness, which made us nervous too.
We sat and smiled our encouragement. But all we saw and sensed was nervousness, which made us nervous too . Was she sure about what she was saying?
As Jennie tip-toed back to her seat (don’t mind me, I’m not here) her head was down and her shoulders hunched; an apologetic smile on her lips.
What an important day this was going to be for Jennie
Her pain was my pain for those brief moments. But I knew all would be well and what an important day this was going to be for Jennie.
After a full morning of sharing some of what I have learned over many years, we had a late lunch and then the group stood in front of each other, and the video, once more.
Who was this girl?
Standing tall, projecting her voice, smiling and making eye contact, her words impactful, flowing and eloquent.
I have to admit I shed a few tears seeing the transformation.
The group applauded and congratulated her with genuine love and support. I have to admit I shed a few tears seeing the transformation. She was beaming as she laughed and clapped her hands together taking her seat.
A small victory you might say?
To you maybe, but to Jennie the beginning of her new found confidence in sharing her conviction, experience and passion in her job. Confidence too that she can take into every encounter in life including her new found love of hypnotherapy.
Here are 5 things that helped Jennie feel differently about speaking up.
- She knew how to stand tall to deliver her message with authority
- She knew where to stand in the space to appear like the expert in the room, being front and centre.
- She knew how to engage us before she even spoke by pausing, smiling and catching our eye.
- She knew how to focus on us, the audience, rather than herself by relating to what problem we had and how she could solve it.
- She understood how her voice was her best asset and used her breathing to project and level her tone.
Jennie is coming on my next three day Speaking from the Heart Retreat – as are over 50% of the other delegates. I am so looking forward to seeing Jennie blossom even further.
As so many people are fearful of speaking in public, I feel so honoured to be able to help employees like Jennie speak from the heart. I know she has an even brighter future ahead of her.
What has helped you gain more confidence in the workplace?
Gill is an international award winning speaker, speaking coach, author, broadcast presenter, Pilates teacher, nutritional expert and advocate for self–care.
Combining her experience in the conventional healthcare field with lifestyle and functional medicine, Gill is an expert in providing holistic solutions for the prevention and reversal of disease. Her interventions align with her ideal of building health rather than treating symptoms. She specializes in addressing the major health trends of the 21st century and is passionate about supporting others to spread this message worldwide; creating global transformation
Gill studied music as her first degree before qualifying as a Registered General Nurse (RGN) in the UK. She has been studying functional medicine for the past 7 years and her transformational work has been recognised with a Doctorate Honoris Causa from the AUGP (Academy of Universal Global Peace) A Peace Award from the UPF (Universal Peace Federation) and she is a member of the ATL (Association of Transformational Leaders) Europe and the WAoFP (Worldwide Association of Female Professionals)
Connect with her here: www.drgillbarham.com
