Public speaking terrifies me. My heart races, I lose my train of thought, and I avoid any situation that puts me in front of an audience. I have a conference talk opportunity in 2 months and I want to go from dreading it to delivering it with genuine confidence.
Plan for: Become a Confident Public Speaker in 60 Days
Trying to fit too much information into a 15-30 minute window, leading to rushing and increased anxiety.
Strictly limit your talk to 3 main points. Time your script early; humans speak at about 130-150 words per minute.
Watching yourself on video might trigger harsh self-criticism and lower confidence.
Commit to the '2 Positives, 1 Improvement' rule. You must identify two things you liked about your delivery before criticizing anything.
Losing your train of thought during live practice.
Have a glass of water nearby. If you blank, take a sip of water. It looks completely natural to the audience and gives your brain 5 seconds to reboot.
Ready to make this plan yours?