Publicly inserting ourselves in front of a crowd has become an everyday venture — even if it’s just for several pairs of eyeballs over our webcam, so much so that we forget its essentialness in our lives. It’s no longer limited to on-stage performances or class presentations but our job interviews and pitching new ideas to your colleagues.
Regardless of the scenario, it instills a sense of confidence, makes you think on your feet, and even scores you better social skills. Trust me. It isn’t a unique talent limited to lucky individuals. It’s a life skill everyone can adopt given the right approach and method.
Yet not all of us entertain the idea of positing ourselves in front of an audience and baring our souls. I ALWAYS feel like burying my head in sand every time I take centre stage, even after years of public speaking experience. But when it comes to it, I swallow back my lump(s) of fear and feign the most confident facial expression. Why?
I’d rather put my game face on and give my best than be a deer in the headlights. In the end, I always leave with a sense of relief, fear still ringing, but thrilled that somehow I managed to pull through. Rest assured, it’s not hard to conquer your fears as long as you remain optimismistic or in my case, several years of fumbling, stutters, and a GREAT deal of optimism — but hey, I got there and so can you!
Before we dive into the tips and tricks that would aid your Greta Thunberg transformation, it’s important to first understand how to conquer your fears: