What do job interviews, presentations, telling stories to your friends or family at Christmas, podcasting, and standing up on stage in front of hundreds of people have in common?

They require us to speak up in a public setting. They demand calmness and clarity in the way we communicate what we have to say.

But for many of us calmness and clarity desert us at these integral times.

If you’re like me then you will have experienced the introvert mind blank on many many occasions, usually just as all eyes turn to you anticipating what you have to say to the room. It can be embarrassing, even humiliating, and can leave us feeling stupid.

As you will know if you’ve been following the blog over the past month I was recently in Cyprus performing and speaking at TEDxUnic.

In this episode I share with you why I wanted to use this opportunity to step into the terrifying prospect of public speaking when I could have taken the easier route of staying comfortable and just performing music. I explore the mindset shifts, techniques and self-talk I used to remain calm beneath what was honestly a level of nerves I’ve not experienced before.

1. 
   
2. Say Yes and Know WHY You Said Yes
   
3. Remind Yourself that It’s Not Meant to Be Easy
   
4. Use What You Already Know to Soften the Pressure
   
5. Practice Practice Practice
   
6. Slow Down and Breathe
   
7. Enjoy it!
   

Do you want to improve your ability to speak in public (whether that’s when you’re with friends/family, or with an ambition to get up on stage)? What holds you back most right now? (Please leave your answer in the comments below, I would love to hear from you)

The post #102: Help! I Have to Speak in Public and I’m Terrified [Podcast] appeared first on Sheep Dressed Like Wolves.