It’s a task that some people find perfectly easy, but for many, speaking in public in front of an audience is a nerve-racking experience. One of the oldest pieces of advice in the book is that you should try imagining your audience naked! So the logic goes, this makes them seem less threatening, and even more exposed than you. However, according to a number of public speaking veterans and experts, this isn’t particularly helpful as it takes away from your ability to actually engage with your audience.
According to them, a great technique to develop is “cognitive reappraisal”. Cognitive reappraisal means re-interpreting the emotions you feel in a certain situation to make them more manageable. In the case of public speaking or performance, this would mean recognizing your nerves and re-evaluating them as a feeling of excitement rather than fear. For example, every time you feel that spike of nerves, just tell yourself that you're excited, and after a while, your mind will begin to recognize this feeling in a more positive way.
However, while cognitive reappraisal will help you get up on stage more comfortably, the greatest approach to speaking well in public will always be preparation. If you’ve prepared accordingly, remember your lines, and have some back up plans for things not going exactly to plan, you can feel much more confident.
