From Fear to Fuel: How to Attain Confidence in Public Speaking.
Hello, everyone. This is Ubong Essien, CSP, and the Dean of the School of Eloquence.
Confidence in public speaking is not an innate trait; it is an attainable educational outcome. It is the inevitable result of preparation meeting knowledge. You cannot wait for confidence to arrive before you take the stage; you must commit to the process that builds it.
The journey from fear to fuel is a deliberate act:
- Knowledge as the Confidence Multiplier: The single greatest source of public speaking anxiety is the fear of the unknown. Formal education deconstructs and demystifies the subject matter. When you know the mechanics, the structure, and the tools, your confidence receives a massive shot in the arm. You are no longer guessing; you are implementing a proven system.
- The Power of Practice: Confidence is reinforced every time you successfully execute a technique you studied. Practice sessions validate the knowledge, reducing the power of abstract fear. It is the practice phase where the knowledge you’ve acquired is consolidated, allowing you to trust your competence .
- Embrace the Energy: Convert the physiological symptoms of fear (the racing heart, the adrenaline surge) into focused energy. The master speaker harnesses this energy, using it to inject enthusiasm and urgency into their delivery. Fear is simply raw power waiting to be channeled.
Commit to the educational process. The more you know, and the more you practice, the more inevitable your confidence becomes.
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