Is Fear Keeping You Out of the Spotlight?

Is Fear Keeping You Out of the Spotlight?
Tips for overcoming the fear of public speaking.

BY MARSHA FRIEDMAN

I was recently asked to be a panelist for a webinar about using the power of publicity to achieve your goals. The participants asked great questions.

The first: "How do you step into the spotlight when you don't like it?"

Getting media attention and speaking engagements—being in the spotlight—is a way to set yourself apart from your competition and become a trusted authority in your field.

But should you abandon that avenue if you don't like the spotlight?

Absolutely not.

I was—and still am—that person who avoids public speaking at all costs. I have no desire to seek the spotlight, but I’ve how important it is for the sake of my business.

In my journey to overcome this fear, I first had to figure out why I was so uncomfortable with the idea of being in the spotlight.

The answer for me was simple: The thought of public speaking terrified me. I’d seen wonderful speakers, including my own brother, who could captivate huge audiences and have them hanging on every word. I knew I didn't have that kind of talent, so why would I bother trying?

But as I came to realize, I had to try in order to grow my business. My fear was holding me back, and this admission became increasingly painful as time marched on.

I talked to my brother about the problem. "It comes naturally to you and the other great speakers I've seen," I told him. "But it doesn't come naturally to me!"

His response surprised me.

"No, it doesn't all come naturally," he said. "I had to work at it."

For years, he spoke to small audiences at seminars, which proved an ideal training ground. He critiqued himself and got feedback from others so that he could constantly polish his delivery.

From my brother, I've learned that you have to give yourself time to get used to the spotlight. With that in mind, here are a few tips to adjust to the process.

 • Know your material. You won’t feel comfortable speaking if you don’t thoroughly know your material. This doesn’t mean memorizing a speech, which leaves little room for spontaneity. Know your key talking points, the anecdotes or other means you’ll use to illustrate them, and how you will smoothly segue from one point to the next.

• Energize! Positive energy is contagious. If you’re upbeat, excited and passionate about your message, chances are your audience will be, too. And an enthusiastic audience can pump up your energy. Use hand gestures to illustrate points and, when appropriate, smile as much as you can!

• Make eye contact. Find friendly, receptive faces in the audience and speak to them. Making eye contact with individuals helps prevent you from staring off into the distance or reading from notes. It also helps make you feel like you're engaging in a conversation, rather than speaking to a group. I've found that visually touching base with engaged audience members gives me little shots of confidence that propel me through my presentation.

• Look your best! When you look great, you feel great, which makes you stand taller and exude confidence. Wear clothing and shoes you feel good in and that are appropriate to the setting. You can't go wrong with business formal. Just make sure to look crisp and polished from head to toe.

A fear of the spotlight shouldn't prevent you from getting the visibility and credibility that can build your brand and your business. Remember, you're not alone. The fear of public speaking is said to be one of the top 10 worldwide.

Marsha Friedman is a 23-year veteran of the public relations industry. She is the CEO of EMSI Public Relations, www.emsincorporated.com, a national firm that provides PR strategy and publicity services to businesses, professional firms, entertainers and authors. Marsha is the author of Celebritize Yourself and she can also be heard weekly on her Blog Talk Radio Show, EMSI’s PR Insider every Thursday at 3:00 PM EST. Follow her on Twitter @marshafriedman.