Presence Training
How Can Mindfulness Enhance Your Public Speaking Performance?
Public speaking and presentation are often shown as a skill for the outgoing extrovert. Mindfulness is often shown as something practised by the reserved, meek and contemplative. Both are excellent skills for anyone though, with valuable aspects of both being used in most daily situations. They can help you become a better public speaker, using the best of both worlds.
If public speaking and presentations are part of your work, then you have already noticed how often disruptive thoughts are getting in the way. They are inconveniences that must be done away with to allow you a calm and collected speech. Resigning yourself to the reality of always facing these thoughts is a way to take on the fear of public speaking.
- You Get to Know Yourself
People are often busy with life and don’t take the time to consider their feelings. Your public speech or presentation would be far more powerful if you are attuned with your emotions and self. Persuading others works better when you’re genuine, and there is nothing more genuine than knowing yourself. You need to consider a few things before you begin, such as your natural gifts as a speaker. There may be thoughts that get in the way during a public speech, which is completely normal.
- Get to Know Your Audience
When we want to become more aware of ourselves, but less critical, we have a great chance to connect to our audience on an emotional level. Connecting to ourselves helps us connect to others. The process of introspection should be the priority. You don’t need to attack your every weakness, but it means being aware of your shortcomings in the name of personal growth. Once you are attuned with yourself, you can understand your audience. Ask yourself what they want, who they are, how you can help them. These are more than just professionals, they are mothers, fathers, sons and daughters.
- You Get to Make Better Choices
When we make the same old tired choices, wearing the same clothes, taking the same route to work, doing the same things over and over, expecting a different outcome, we are truly lying to ourselves in the worst way possible. Repetitive behaviour won’t help you connect to your audience. You should practice mindfulness to become aware of these limitations, so you can overcome them and break through the roof stifling your potential.
- You Get to Stop Lying to Yourself
We are imperfect creatures by design. Everyone feels a level of anxiety when you’re out there in the limelight and speaking in public. Some may be extremely nervous, close to a panic attack, while others may feel more at peace. The truth is, mindfulness of this simple fact is the first step on the road to overcoming your fear.
People tend to wander in their thoughts most of the time, but most of those thoughts are repetitive patterns that bog us down with unnecessary obsessions. When you need to present something, public speaking often leads to anxiety, precisely because of these obsessive thoughts and their destructive element. Remember these steps to disarm them:
Sit with your spine straight or stand up straight when you’re on your feet.
Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Take mindful breaths during your speech and focus on timing and pauses.
When your mind inevitably wanders, you will need to bring it back into focus by breathing and sensing how that feels. Don’t challenge or judge yourself, just feel every breath. Do that every time your mind wanders and you’ll be able to refocus yourself.
