Tom Dowd: How to Turn Fear of Speaking into Success

Tom Dowd, also known as Transformation Tom, is a prize-winning speaker, an award-winning and Amazon best-selling author, trainer, coach, and radio host. In 2012 he published the book “From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide”. Tom is a member of Toastmasters International and the National Speakers Association. Why people are afraid of public speaking? Imagine driving in a city you’ve never been to before and you don’t have a map or GPS. It’s the same feeling: risk of failure, fear of embarrassment, thinking “what if”, etc. How to overcome the fear of public speaking Figure out what your symptoms are and start working on them. Stop trying to avoid them and take conscious efforts to make yourself better. Grab a mentor or someone who gives you good, solid, objective advice. Start sharing stories you’re familiar with. That will build your confidence. Confidence For 18 years, Tom was told on his performance appraisals that he couldn’t communicate well. When he joined Toastmasters he found out that it had nothing to do with communication skills and everything to do with confidence. Communication skills can be taught, but telling someone to be confident is tough. Trends in presentations The business of speaking is changing. There are alternatives to be trained and get content, such as attending a webinar versus traveling. Those who can marry the technology with their audience needs find more success and have strong content. Related: Find Your Own Words of Power Favorite quotation “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” — John C. Maxwell Recommended book Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson Routine to Shine Write. And when you’re done, write some more. And when you’re done, write some more. Write, write, write. Links Tom at Twitter Tom at LinkedIn Tom Dowd’s website