How do you create distance from fear of public speaking?

One way is to talk to yourself in the “second person,” as YOU.

You may remember from high school that:

• When you talk about yourself (“I like ice cream”) you’re speaking in what’s called first person;
• When you talk directly to someone else (“You like ice cream”) you’re speaking in the second person; and
• When you talk about someone else who may not even be there (“He or she likes ice cream”), that’s called speaking in the third person.
  

Here’s how that translates to creating distance from fear:

If you’re nervous about an upcoming speech, you might try to talk yourself down by saying,

“I’ve got this speech covered!”

But according to a study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, your words will have a more calming effect if you talk to yourself in the second person. So I might say,

“Jezra, you’ve got this speech covered!”

Why? Because that creates more distance from fear.

Public Speaking Anxiety Lessens with Distance

According to seven different studies with a total of 585 participants, the second person formulation — “YOU can do this!” — is more effective because it helps you distance yourself from your own fear.

Self-talk is an great way to create that distance, and now we know that it works even better when you speak to yourself in the second person —”You’re ready!” instead of “I’m ready” — and works best when you actually address yourself by name (“You’re ready, Jezra!”).

To Manage Fear of Public Speaking, Adopt a Public Speaking Avatar

It’s also tremendously helpful to speak to (and see) yourself in the third person (“he, she, it”), by taking on a character, persona, or Avatar that represents a less-nervous version of yourself.

Creating and “becoming” a Public Speaking Avatar will help you to hold fear at a distance, because your Avatar allows you to easily tap into (and, let’s face it, hide behind!) an image of your best, most powerful, and most confident self.

Your Avatar is, literally, a character that stands in for you — a character you send to do your public speaking! But whether he or she is inspired by a superhero, a highly-evolved leader such as Dr. King, or someone you know in real life, your Avatar is also a version of YOU. He or she is:

• You, with more confidence

• You, but more relaxed

• You, with more of whichever of your positive qualities you’d like to have more of — and less of the qualities you wish you didn’t have

And the best part of creating an Avatar is that you get to pick and choose what parts of yourself you’d like to highlight when you’re speaking in public…

And then you get to send your Avatar out to give your speech, do your job interview, or deliver that wedding toast you’re worried about!

Fight Your Fear of Public Speaking in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Person

The bottom line is that, whatever approach you choose (and choosing more than one approach can only expand your chances of success), keep fighting your fear of public speaking.

Tell yourself that “you” can do it… create and practice feeling like an Avatar version of your best and strongest self… and then take the leap and start speaking in public.

The world is waiting to hear what you have to say! Don’t keep us waiting any longer.

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Buy 100 Top Public Speaking Tips: The Book!

In 25 years of speaker coaching, I’ve helped my individual speaker coaching clients develop their strengths and skills to become authentic and effective communicators.

Along the way, I’ve developed tips for everything from small talk to speaking up in meetings, from managing fear to making an impact.

And now, I’ve shared it all in 100 Top Public Speaking Tips: The Book. This beautifully designed PDF booklet is searchable, clickable, and categorized, so that you can find what you need, instantly.

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