Does the idea of speaking in front of a group of people leave you paralyzed with fear?

You are not alone!

Public speaking routinely ranks in the top 5 fears in the world. It usually ranks above needles, snakes, heights, and sometimes even death!

We’ve all seen people clinging to the podium and sweating through their suits. It’s hard to watch! You end up feeling nervous for them.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Public speaking is a very powerful tool that can be learned.

I know, I’ve done it.

When I recently saw someone trembling at the podium, I felt it. She was shaking while she gave a short introduction. She was clinging to her notes. She stumbled over her words. It felt so familiar that I just wanted to cheer her on.

I’ve been there and she was certainly doing better than I did in the beginning. I would turn beet red and completely freeze. I even had trouble raising my hand to ask a question in class – law school class.

I have come a long way and she will, too. Her goal is to become a great speaker and she will get there. She has slain the dragon of that first time at the podium.

One thing that could have made her experience even better is Tapping. It has helped me break out of my shell and actually enjoy public speaking. I wish I’d known Tapping way back when!

Two ways to use Tapping to eliminate your public speaking fear

Click here to watch the video!

A big part of public speaking fear is worry that the audience is judging you (harshly). Since I was recently in the audience, I decided to write this tapping protocol from both perspectives – audience and speaker. This will help you to understand what the audience is really thinking.

As an audience member

Start by thinking of the last time you saw someone nervous at the podium. Imagine it in your mind as vividly as possible.

For this one, we’re just going to jump right in and start tapping through the points.

Top of your head (TH): There I was, watching her at the podium…

Eye Brow (EB): I could tell that she was nervous.               

Outside of the Eye (OE): She had my total attention.

Under Eye (UE): As I looked at her, I wondered how she would do.

Under Nose (UN): Would she cave?

Chin (CH): Was it all going to fall apart for her.

Collarbone (CB): I was nervous for her?

KC: NO! I wanted her to succeed.

TH: I knew how hard this was for her.

EB: I knew that she was challenging herself.

OE: I wanted her to make it through.

UE: It was a big deal for her to get up and speak in front of all of us.

UN: It was still hard to watch.

CH: She was shaky.

CB: She was red in the face.

KC: She fumbled her words sometimes.

TH: She was clinging her notes.

EB: She went off track from time to time.

OE: I knew that she was worried that we were judging her.

UE: But it was the opposite – we were all proud of her.

UN: We were rooting for her.

CH: I wanted to comfort her and let her know that she was doing great.

CB: I wanted to let her know that she would get better and better at speaking.

KC: I wanted her to see what we all saw – a great public speaker in the making.

TH: She was so brave!

EB: Most people can’t even get up in front of a group!

OE: As the talk went on, I noticed some of the tension fading from her face.

UE: Her shoulders relaxed.

UN: She looked at us more and less at her notes.

CH: And she made it all the way through.

CB: When she finished, we all let out a sigh of relief.

KC: She was so glad to be finished!

TH: It wasn’t the most eloquent or beautiful talk.

EB: It was a “first” talk and first times are about getting it done.

OE: Now that she has that out of the way, she can work on getting better at it.

UE: She got her point across.

UN: She did a great job.

CH: If she keeps practicing, she will develop her own style.

CB: She’ll learn how to connect with her audience and work the room.

KC: She’s on her way to being a great public speaker.

Take a deep breath.

As a speaker

Here is a link to the video!

Start by thinking of the last time you spoke in public (or an upcoming speaking engagement). Imagine it in your mind as vividly as possible.

I created this tapping protocol after having the pleasure of watching someone who was new to public speaking do an introductory talk for a group.

For this one, we’re just going to jump right in and start tapping through the points.

Top of your head (TH): There they were, all watching me take the stage…

Eye Brow (EB): They could tell that I was nervous.            

Outside of the Eye (OE): I had their total attention.

Under Eye (UE): As they looked at me, they wondered how I would do.

Under Nose (UN): Would I cave?

Chin (CH): Was it all going to fall apart for me?

Collarbone (CB): Is that what they wanted to see?

KC: NO! They wanted me to succeed.

TH: They knew how hard this was for me.

EB: They knew that I was challenging myself.

OE: They wanted me to make it through.

UE: It was a big deal for me to get up and speak in front of all of them.

UN: It was still hard to watch.

CH: I was shaky.

CB: I was red in the face.

KC: I fumbled my words sometimes.

TH: I was clinging to my notes.

EB: I went off track from time to time.

OE: They knew that I was worried that they were judging me.

UE: But it was the opposite – they were all proud of me.

UN: They were rooting for me.

CH: They wanted to comfort me and let me know that I was doing great.

CB: They wanted to let me know that I would get better and better at speaking.

KC: They wanted me to see what they all saw – a great public speaker in the making.

TH: I was so brave!

EB: Most people can’t even get up in front of a group!

OE: As the talk went on, they noticed some of the tension fading from my face.

UE: My shoulders relaxed.

UN: I looked at them more and less at my notes.

CH: And I made it all the way through.

CB: When I was finished, everyone let out a sigh of relief.

KC: I was so glad to be finished!

TH: It wasn’t the most eloquent or beautiful talk.

EB: It was a “first” talk and first times are about getting it done.

OE: Now that I have that out of the way, I can work on getting better at it.

UE: I got her point across.

UN: I did a great job.

CH: If I keep practicing, I will develop my own style.

CB: I’ll learn how to connect with my audience and work the room.

KC: I’m on my way to becoming a great public speaker.

Take a deep breath.

Tapping through these will give you some great relief from speaking fear. Tap through them as often as you need to. You can change it to fit your unique circumstances.

Is your speaking fear is keeping you from moving forward in your career? Contact me and let’s talk.

I can help you move past the public speaking block so that you can begin using this powerful communication tool to your advantage.

Want to watch the video? Click here!