How to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking

The ability to stand on your feet and speak or present to an audience is one of the most valuable skills you can ever have. It is generally recognised that many people have a debilitating fear of public speaking, with public speaking being universally described as people’s number one fear. However, like any skill, mastering public speaking requires training and practice.

This public speaking course can help you to increase your skills and confidence – especially if you do not normally undertake public speaking or if you are required to do more speaking within your job or the community.

Course Times

• 8:30am to 3:30pm

Course Content

How to control fear and anxiety

• The role of nerves in public speaking
• Your anxiety reality check

Preparation

• The 3 levels of great preparation

Steps to improve confidence and effectiveness as a speaker

• The role of feedback
• How to immerse yourself in speaking opportunities
• Simple speech structure

The role of relaxation

• How to relax before speaking
• Quick relaxation techniques

Expanding your comfort zone

• The next steps
• Feel the fear and do it anyway

Strategies to connect with the audience and build empathy

• Put the audience first
• Use gestures, voice and eye contact to connect and build rapport

• Understand the role that fear and anxiety play in public speaking and how to turn this energy into a positive outcome
• Utilise the tools, strategies and the confidence to get started with your public speaking and presentations
• Learn ways to control any fear and nerves that you experience when public speaking
• Learn the most effective way to prepare for any speaking situation
• Learn the importance of getting feedback and clever ways to harness this feedback to improve your confidence and effectiveness as a speaker

This program requires no previous training or experience.

“I am very pleased with the course facilitated by Peter. He threw us in the deep end but I have the best feeling that I can overcome this fear little by little each week. Peter’s story is very touching and makes me think if he can do it anyone can! Definitely the best course I have been to at ATI-Mirage to date” Emma from Public Trustee

“I enjoyed being able to practice the skills as we were learning them. Small class size made it unintimidating” Sarah from Murdoch University

“The best feature of this course was the positive environment created at all times allowing people to feel comfortable participating and learning together” Shani from Public Sector Commission

“Very practical workshop. I can implement what I learnt to improve my public speaking” Jodie from Legal Practice Board of Western Australia

“The best part of this course was the realisation that public speaking is not about you, you are just the messenger” Tom from Rio Tinto

“Learnt different techniques for presenting” Ena from Synergy

“Excellent delivery. Honest, transparent and tailored to the group” Tracey from BHP

“I have been exposed to ideas and skills that will help me further towards my public speaking goals” Thomas

“The best part of this course were the tools given to make public speaking feel easier” Emma from WA Country Health Service

“A good reminder to listen to feedback, don’t self-evaluate” Michele from Dental Health Services

“Gained an understanding of my fear and was given the tools to push through it” Sharee

“Feedback given on our speaking was always great and on point” Richard from Zurich Financial Services