How I deal with my anxiety speaking to and audience.

Feb '23 in General discussion & questions

A couple of years ago I had an accident and suffered brain trauma , this caused me to loose my speech, reading and writing (not that I could spell to begin with). After a long rehabilitation I can speak and read somewhat normal again(still can't spell) some days are better that others. I still struggle with pronunciation, I take pauses when I try to process words, I read really slow and normally I would have to read everything more than once. This made me very self conscious speaking in meetings, presenting and facilitating workshops.

Here is how I deal with my anxiety.

1.I own my shortcoming, I make it part of my story.

2.Start with a joke (usually at my own expense) the response of laughter immediately puts me at ease.

3.I stopped assuming that everyone knows more than me.

4.Silences are ok, whenever I lose train of thought or I'm processing for the right word I pause, normally the pause is much sorter than I feel in that moment plus there is always that one person in the crowd that loves to help me out.

5.I prepare for the topic and prectice and practice and practice.

6.I focus on eye contact.

7. I picture a successful outcome

I wonder if there are some of you with a similar problems and how you deal with it?

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