Picture this – You do not find it difficult to talk to people. However, when it comes to talking to this same set of people on a stage, you get the jitters. Fun fact, you are not alone in this.
I recently discovered a shocking fact about public speaking – Did you know that, according to research, approximately 75% of the world’s population has a fear of public speaking?
That’s a whopping over 200 million people afraid to speak publicly to people! In another research carried out by Crossrivertherapy, results have shown that women are more likely to experience anxiety in public speaking compared to men.
What is Public Speaking?
In simple terms, public speaking means to speak before an audience…in public. It involves two entities – You, the speaker and your audience.
The fear of public speaking, also called speech anxiety or Glossophobia, is the feeling of stress or fear when it comes to speaking in front of others. In extreme cases, this fear can range from an average level of nervousness, shaky voice, sweaty palms, panic, and paralyzing fear.
In this article, you will discover practical steps to help you overcome this fear of public speaking and take you out of the 75% of people with glossophobia.
Remember the analogy from the beginning of this article? Why do you think it is easier to talk to people one-on-one than on a stage?
Causes of Fear of Public Speaking
There are so many reasons why most people are scared of speaking in public. Here are a few widespread ones:
- Feeling of Self-Consciousness: Compared to just sitting and talking to someone, standing on a stage can make you feel self-conscious, especially if it’s in front of a huge audience. Who wouldn’t fidget when you have multiple eyes focused on you?
- Fear of Judgement: This is a very common cause of speech anxiety especially in women. What if they are sizing me up? Is my makeup too much? Does my posture speak of confidence? These thoughts are common in people who speak publicly for the first time. The fear of not making a good impression can make your audience judge you.
- Lack of Preparation: Permit my motivational belt here but – “Those who fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” If you are not prepared for a speech, you may not speak as well as you wish.
- Anxiety Problems: People living with general anxiety or other anxiety disorders may automatically have a fear of public speaking because of the already existing anxiety disorder.
- Past Failures: Most people with a fear of public speaking are people who have had bad experiences with public speaking. This makes them scared of speaking in front of an audience because they do not want to repeat the same scenario again.
How to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking
Having known some of the causes of speech anxiety, the next question is how can you overcome this fear? Below are some practical ways you can overcome this fear.
Begin with Acceptance
Before you can overcome the fear of public speaking, you first have to accept that you have this fear and it’s normal. Speaking to people, especially a huge audience puts you in a very vulnerable position of being potentially judged and criticized.
This triggers your flight or fight hormones which is your body’s natural response to danger. This may cause your palms to sweat, dry throat, heart palpitations, etc. Don’t start judging yourself when you experience this, instead manage it.
Get Familiar with Your Topic
One of the causes of speech anxiety, as mentioned earlier, is a lack of preparation. The more you know about your topic, the less likely it is that you will get off track or make a mistake.
Even if you do get lost for a moment, you can easily get back on track, if you are prepared enough.
To do this, you must take time to study what you are speaking about. Consider possible questions your audience might ask, and prepare your answers beforehand. Practice with people around to get a feel of your presentation.
Be Organized
While organizing your speech, ask yourself what information you want to present. Do you want to come off as serious, jovial or a mix?
What means of communication will you be using to transmit your information? This could be audio aids like (microphones, speakers) visual aids (projectors), or any other props. Setting these materials up beforehand reduces your level of anxiety before speaking.
You definitely can’t make a good speech if you run in late and your setup is not prepared properly…except you are Chimamanda Adichie.
Practice Practice Practice
This is one very powerful way of overcoming the fear of public speaking. Like the old saying “practice makes perfect.” However, I’d prefer to put it in Les Brown’s way: practice makes improvements.
The more you practice the better you become at speaking to a large audience. You can practice your speech with people you are comfortable with like friends and family. Don’t be shy to receive and ask them for their feedback and criticism.
You can also practice in front of a camera to watch it and evaluate yourself. If you can, practice with people with whom you are not so familiar.
They can give you honest feedback, as your friends and family might try to shield your feelings when giving you, their feedback.
Tackle Specific Worries
When you are scared of doing something, it is natural to overthink the likelihood of things going south.
This also applies to public speaking. Instead of dwelling on your fears of what could go wrong, make a list of things you are worried about and tackle them head-on. For example, if you are worried your audience won’t take you seriously because of your accent?
Then check out videos of people who are successful in public speaking even with their accents. This will help boost your confidence. My favourite recommendations are YouTube and TED talks.
Be Positive
Napoleon Hill in his book, “Think and Grow Rich”, spoke extensively about how you can only be as great as your mind thinks.
The quickest way to improve your public speaking is by defeating the mental attitude that thinks you will fail.
Visualize your success. Imagine your speech going so well that you get a standing ovation so loud, it resonates around the hall.
This will reduce some of your anxiety about speaking in public, subdue negative thoughts, and boost your confidence.
Think About Your Audience
When preparing to speak in public, it isn’t enough to just know your topic. You should also think of your audience. Ask these questions –
- Who will you be speaking to?
- Why are they there?
- What do they need?
- How can your speech help them?
Answering these questions will not only help you prepare adequately but you will find it easy to pass your message to your audience.
Seek Support
As a public speaker, you need to have a support system. This support could be from family, friends, co-workers, managers, etc. People who can help boost your confidence in your public speaking abilities.
You could also get a speech coach, watch videos, join a public speaking group, watch instructional videos on public speaking, etc. This will provide you with the guidance and help you need to prepare yourself before speaking to your audience.
In extreme cases of fear of public speaking which around 5-10% of the world’s population are struggling with, you should seek the help of a therapist.
Benefits of Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking
You might be asking yourself, “Why do I need to overcome my fear of public speaking?”
Being able to speak confidently in public has a lot of benefits, especially for women.
Public Speaking is an empowering tool that challenges stereotypes, levels the playing field, and makes women’s voices heard. It also helps females establish themselves as experts, influencers, and leaders in their different fields.
Here are other benefits of public speaking to women.
- Being a confident public speaker can help you overcome your shyness and build your self-esteem.
- Public speaking can help you as a woman move up the corporate ladder by opening up new opportunities. It also gives you an edge as a better decision-maker and better negotiator.
- Being able to communicate effectively can help establish you as an expert in your field. Ultimately, this could lead to more career visibility and recognition.
- Overcoming your fear of public speaking gives you a platform to share your life experiences with others and also advocate for change.
A typical example is Chimamanda Adichie, a woman with legendary public speaking prowess which she uses to inspire and empower women while promoting social change at the same time.
Conclusion
Overcoming your fear of public speaking is a journey, not a destination. Start from the small stage – ten to twenty audience before moving to the big leagues.
By practicing all the steps highlighted in this article, you’ll gradually build confidence and find your voice. Remember, even the most seasoned speakers experience some level of nervousness.
The key is to embrace these emotions, shift your focus to your message and audience, and trust your ability to connect and deliver.
