I am a really shy person. I'm currently in a graduate program which requires lots of presentations, but they always make me feel stressed out and less confident. How can I get more confident?
I have difficulty with communication
I was the very same way when I was in graduate school. It makes sense that speaking in front of others would be scary because all of the attention is on you and you probably have expectations to meet each time (including your own).Practice is the best way to build confidence before a speech. Feeling prepared reduces anxiety for speaking just like it would for taking a test--you are solidifying the pathways in your brain that store and recall the information you need to know and speak about.Remember that it's pretty normal to feel increased anxiety before and during a speech. It's something that matters to you, so your body is trying to prepare you to fight through it. It can often feel like your body is working against you when it is actually doing quite the opposite!Also remember that people typically are not aware of how anxious you are. They cannot hear your heart racing, they don't have access to your racing thoughts or insecurities, and they cannot feel the butterflies in your stomach.When you practice your speech, practice appearing confident as well. Identify a couple focal points where you practice and pretend those are people. Confident posture and eye contact can help you feel more confident about what you are speaking about. When you get to the actual speech, have a couple focal points that you switch your gaze to every few seconds. People will perceive that as confidence, even if you aren't looking directly into everyone's eyes (which can be intimidating).Don't forget to breathe! Taking a few deep breaths can send the message to your brain that what you are about to do is not dangerous--you are safe. You'll still feel anxiety, but that's OK! During your presentation, you can continue that in a sense by speaking slower. It may seem like you are talking too slowly, but when you are anxious, it's actually a natural response to talk too fast.Try to visualize yourself doing well and remind yourself that you can make it through a presentation. When it's over, give yourself that credit!