New business owners are often advised that public speaking is one of the best ways to promote their business. If you’ve been afraid to try this free form of marketing, you’re not alone – according to Chase’s Calendar of Events 2009, 97% of Americans have a fear of public speaking. This is not news! Consider this, said over 100 years ago:
“There are two types of public speakers:
those who are afraid and those who are liars.”Mark Twain
In other words, there are very few people who are NOT afraid to stand up and speak in front of a group – this includes the many polished speakers you may have seen and heard in your life. They may not appear to be afraid, but they probably are. And if they’re not, they probably were at one time. So how can YOU overcome this fear? Here are a few suggestions.
You could start by reading a book, such as Dale Carnegie’s Public Speaking For Success
Sign up for a seminar through the Continuing Education Department at your local high school or community college. I did this, and although not everyone had the opportunity to speak in class because it was only a single session, I was able to pick up some valuable tips in a “safe” environment.
Thousands of people around the world belong to Toastmasters. I’m not a member myself, but I know several people who are, and they swear by it. I once had the opportunity to co-present with a Toastmasters member, and I learned strategies from her that I continue to use to this day. (By the way, they have some great free resources on their website, including an article, The Fear of Public Speaking: 20 Ways to Get Over It!)
If you’re more comfortable with one-on-one support, work with a speaking coach until you’re ready to go public.
Just bite the bullet and do it! It’s easiest if you start with a small group of people that you already know, such as a networking group that you attend on a regular basis. This is basically what I did, and I’m not going to lie to you and say it was a piece of cake, but I didn’t make a fool of myself, and if I made any mistakes, nobody knew it but me.
Local groups are looking for speakers all the time, so there’s no shortage of opportunities out there. Once you get known as an expert in your field, people will even be willing to pay for you to come and speak for their organization. The great thing is, once you’ve developed your material for one presentation, you can reuse it for other groups, reworking it as needed. That same material can also be developed into articles, teleclasses, e-books, and maybe even a book!
Public speaking doesn’t only provide benefits to your business – it can help you grow personally. You become a more effective communicator, and more confident in yourself. Don’t deny yourself this opportunity!
Hi Janet-
How right you are! Public speaking has been called the most powerful form of marketing your business — particularly for service professionals — by the likes of CJ Hayden, best-selling author of Get Clients Now.
I’ve been teaching public speaking for years and have been honored to help other business owners develop their Signature Speeches to get more prospects, more clients & more cash flow. Most report truly amazing results because the formula is so simple yet so powerful.
Thanks for spreading the word about this fabulous tool!
Warmly,
Felicia Slattery
http://www.SignatureSpeechSecrets.com
Follow me on Twitter http://Twitter.com/FeliciaSlattery
Janet,
This blog post is simply superb! You rightfully underscored the importance of presentation skills and public speaking to business owners in order to effectively market themselves, and gave some terrific ideas to begin to overcome stage fright and fear of public speaking as well as find opportunities to start speaking and practicing.
The only thing I might possibly add to your excellent post is:
1. There are tons and tons of free resources on the web, not the least of which are the many articles I have on the topic on my website which are specifically written for business owners and entrepreneurs, and of course it’s easy enough to Google “article directories” too.
2. Your real problem will not actually be stage fright or fear of public speaking – it will be your new addiction to making presentations and doing public speaking! I routinely see this transformation in my students – they go from being afraid to get up and speak, to extremely itchy to do their next presentation.
Janet, your advice to “just do it” is really right on target. People find that the “scary stage fright monster” turns out in reality to be a tiny ant and nothing to be afraid of after all.
Best,
David Portney
David, thanks for letting us know about your website – you have a wealth of information there, and I see you offer an e-course too!
I still get very anxious before a speaking engagement, and tell my husband I’m not going to accept any more invitations, but then I come home afterwards on top of the world because I had so much fun!
Felicia, you make some great points! Once you master the art of speaking for 30 minutes (or longer), giving your 30 second self-introduction is a piece of cake!