I have extensive experience in public speaking and board presentations. People have asked me about cool tips on how to control your anxiety when delivering a speech or when facing an important appointment such as a court date. The fear of public speaking is, after all, ranked third in the top 10 things people fear most (fear of death is No. 1, fear of flying No. 2, fear of snakes, spyders -insects- comes in number 4, etc.)  The unconscious response to threats is controlled by the ANS, or Autonomous Nervous System.

Folks: be careful: When you associate yourself with a pussy-whipped beta man (the greatest majority of men), it just might be contagious! Don’t say I did not warn you ! “In 2009, Lilianne Mujica-Parodi, a Harvard researcher, collected sweat from the armpits of first time skydivers. Can we catch ‘fear’ the same way we catch a cold ? Mujica-Parodi and her team certainly seems to think do.“- Kevin Dutton, The Wisdom of Psychopaths. See also Wikipedia Pheromones and why fear can be contagious.  

The video below gives you some basics. You need to  know about the 3-by-3 breathing method (breath in 3 seconds in and out,  X3)  to prevent a squeaky voice, also know you can stop body shaking if you clench your buttocks or your thighs .

Some people suggest entering into a visualized “aura of calm or perfect state”. If they have previously imagined a state of heightened clarity or calm, they claim to be able to experience it at will.

I give talks that are better than Mark Zuckerberg’s Harvard Commencement speech. But it takes time to develop style and confidence. First step is to attend those conferences, or at least watch them. Helpful TED talk : The 7 secrets of the greatest speakers in history | Richard Greene.

How about the Delivery Alpha Conference this week: did you watch any of it ? I’ll be happy to deconstruct for you the speaker style and skills. Let me know.

One on One with Stephen Schwarzman from CNBC.