Public Speaking Handbook – 5 Public Speaking Myths Demystified #2

Public speaking career is surrounded by myths, there is no doubt about that. And I already wrote how all this nonsense is holding so many people back from at least giving public speaking a chance. They walk away without trying even once and thus experiencing this great feeling that accompanies a speaker when he is walking off stage, no matter how big or small it was.

Today is the time to demystify another of the public speaking myths and free you from your fear of public speaking.

Myth #2: Every time you deliver a speech, something publicly humiliating will happen.

This myth alone is the source of many public speaking fears and phobias. I know a great deal of people who feel paralyzed before having to even voice their opinion, only because they fear that something terribly humiliating is going to happen. Worse, they are certain that it WILL happen.

But here is the catch. Think of so many presentations you have witnessed in your life. From your teachers at school, sales presentations in your company to big conferences you attended through work. And now tell me, on how many of them something terrible has actually happened?

Of course, there are those slips of the tongue, or a laptop shuts itself down during presentation or something else happens but which of those situations are actually publicly humiliating? None, exactly. And in fact, if you think about it, in all of those rare cases where something did happen, did the speaker not turn it into his favor by a clever joke or a punchline?

I, personally used to believe in this myth for years. And every time I was just about to walk on stage I was preparing myself mentally for any disaster I could only imagine. And you know what? In most cases nothing happened. Once or twice my laptop shut down (I forgot to check the battery beforehand) or the microphone wasn’t turned on when I started my presentation. These were a very few incidents amongst tens of speeches I delivered though.

So, next time you are about to go on stage or stand in front of any audience remember that the only publicly humiliating thing that could happen to you is to be standing there unprepared to deliver your speech. But if that was the case you wouldn’t be there after all, so you have nothing to worry about.

Public Speaking Handbook – 5 Public Speaking Myths Demystified #1

I have been speaking for couple of years now, studied the public speaking handbook many times over and continue to do so every day to improve my skills. I am confident that I can deliver any speech to practically any audience and deal with unpredictable situations that can occur during a performance.

Yes, I pride myself to be one of the thousands of people around the world who engage is some form of public speaking to develop themselves, earn a living or simply have a good time.

However I am absolutely terrified by the amount of rubbish that is said about public speaking. All those myths about speaking making many people give up on it without trying.

Are you one of them? Are you limiting your growth and development, prevent yourself from embarking on this wonderful adventure of public speaking and ultimately bereft yourself from that wonderful career?

If so, I have some good news for you. Today I decided to break five of those myths, one at a time and prove how easy and wonderful public speaking can be when you stop believing in them.

Ready?

Myth #1: Public speaking is a gift you have to be born with.

This is probably one of the most commonly known myths about public speaking. Many of you have probably heard it as far back as school days when you couldn’t say a word during a school play or a similar occasion. Your teacher would simply classify you, or one of your classmates as the one who doesn’t have it, right?

Here is the truth, public speaking is a skill and you can learn it. In fact, it is not even that difficult to do so. All it takes is following simple exercises and a lot of practice, with the latter being even more important.

There are many resources for mastering the public speaking skill that you could use and you definitely should equip yourself with a public speaking handbook for reference. Add a lot of practice to it and very quickly you will be on a path to becoming a confident public speaker.