The 3 benefits of nervousness when speaking in public

While you might not think that nervousness is beneficial to public speaking or any other type of live performance, be it in the performing arts or professional sports, the truth is that there are wonderful bonuses to the dreaded download of adrenalin. Many people, however, are unable to appreciate what nervousness can do for them, because they have no control over it.

In truth, I prefer a person to be nervous when speaking in public because nervousness or increased stress level actually increases your chances of success at the lectern. The problem for many people is that their nervousness is controlling them and not the other way around. That, in itself, is a reason to fear public speaking. And, in cases like this, your stress level continues to rise, increasing your nervousness instead of decreasing it.

When Indianapolis played New Orleans this month, don’t you think the football players were nervous? Of course they were. It was the Super Bowl! Nervousness is not something that just happens to you. It happens to all of us in one way or another. The difference between you and the soccer player, for example, is that he puts his nervousness to good use, just as professional actors, musicians, singers, and speakers do.

Being able to control your anxiety, nervousness, jitters or whatever you call it means that you will discover:

• increased awareness of all your senses,
• the ability to be more focused, and,
• an increase in your level of enthusiasm, which your audience will feel too.

Nervousness is debilitating only if you allow it. So how do you control your nervousness and allow it to work for you? Learning to breathe with the support of your diaphragm. If you have never thought about breathing this way, you may want to learn this technique. By doing so, you will also discover an overall reduction in the stress you face on a daily basis.

If you want to know if you are breathing correctly, stand in front of a mirror, without your shirt or blouse, and take a deep breath. Did her shoulder lift? Did you vacuum in the mid-torso region? If so, then you are breathing incorrectly: you are a lazy or shallow breather. By breathing this way, the nervousness you feel at the lectern will only be exacerbated.

Make a habit of diaphragmatic breathing and see what happens the next time you have to give a presentation or speech. Nothing better to control nervousness than breathing with this support. Imagine controlling your nervousness, ending shortness of breath, and having control over your labor simply by breathing properly. Pretty novel idea, isn’t it?