I'd Rather Die Than Give a Talk

Ever heard someone say \"I’d rather die than give a talk\" or more alarmingly, have you said it to yourself?

Let’s get one thing straight. You wouldn’t rather die than give a talk. No one would. Yet how many times do we bombard our subconscious with such negative messages when the subject of public speaking or making presentations is raised.

Let me tell you a secret most professional speakers and presenters discovered long ago... ‘before you speak to your audience, be careful what you say to yourself’.

Let me explain. Imagine you have been asked to give a talk or make a presentation. Your initial thought might be “Why me?” or “I hate doing that,can’t someone else do it?”

Not exactly the most positive starts to the whole exercise! In fact, your negative thoughts automatically lead to you feeling anxious and uncertain about the task and how you’re feeling will influence how you approach the presentation. In a nutshell, thinking negatively leads to feeling negative, which leads to acting without confidence or self belief. Admit it, this is not the best recipe for success. Combine all of the above and what’s the result? You are unlikely to have done much to overcome your fear and dislike of communicating in public, but rather, reinforce it. Interestingly enough you have just worked through a process I call ‘The T.E.A.R.’ process:

Thinking (Talking negatively to my self)
Emotions (I feel anxious and nervous)
Actions (I behave without the self confidence and belief I need)
Results (I fail to achieve my potential as a speaker)

So change how you think, i.e. what you say to yourself and immediately you are embarking on a different journey. So what could you decide to focus your thoughts on? Here’s a few ideas for starters...

“A chance to speak in public is a chance to raise my profile.”
“I’ve got lots of great information my audience will really benefit from hearing.”
“What do I need to do in order to make this presentation a great one?”
“What’s the most important message I want to give my audience?”

These thoughts will immediately change your emotions and how you feel about the presentation. You are more likely to act and prepare in a different way and to achieve much more positive results.

Remember that all speakers and presenters can feel nervous beforehand, but, learn to view this release of adrenaline in your system as ‘excitement’ rather than ‘nerves’ and as an indication that your body is gearing up to help you achieve your best.

There are hundreds of ways to improve our ability to communicate successfully with others. But a good starting point is to begin by talking more positively to yourself. Rather die than give a talk? Get real. Get positive with yourself and enjoy the process.', 'Ever heard someone say \"I’d rather die than give a talk\" or more alarmingly, have you said it to yourself?