Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking

Glossophobia is the fear of speaking in public. Believed to be the single most common phobia, 75 percent of the population would rather deal with death than speak before a group or audience.

Simply the thought of giving a speech brings intense anxiety to many people. Physically, people may experience nausea, distress, or great panic. The heart starts beating faster and the mouth gets dry. The legs or body may also start shaking. Developing a stress-induced speech disorder during a public speech is not unheard of.

What Causes the Fear?

The most common cause is the fear of looking foolish in front of peers and important people. People do not want to put themselves out that way. They are thinking: What if I mess up; What if I don't remember anything; What if I sound like a babbling fool; What if people become bored.

Other causes include traumatic incidents, continual avoidance of public speaking which builds up anxiety over time, and negative beliefs formed early in life relating to speaking such as: No one will believe me, People will see me as a failure, or What I have to say is not important.

Strategies to Public Speaking

There are several steps to overcoming the fear of public speaking:

Prepare. Research your topic. Know it backwards and forwards. Identify who your audience will be and under what conditions you will speak.

Practice. Practice makes perfect. The more you say the speech, the more natural it will sound coming from you. This will give you more confidence.

Have an Outline On Hand. This is a safety net in case something goes wrong. If you forget what comes next, refer to your outline. Have your speech outlined on 3 X 5 cards.

Reduce Audience Fear. Having important people in your audience may give you anxiety. Lighten up. The audience is on your side and wants to hear what you have to say. Talk to them as your friends. The audience will read your body language and correspond accordingly.

Relax. Before you speak, take a deep breathe to calm yourself. This will ease your nerves and boost your body with oxygen. Your body will settle down and your mind will focus on the subject at hand.

In Conclusion

The fear of public speaking is the most common phobia. Overcoming this fear includes being prepared, having an outline on hand, visualizing your audience as friends, and practicing as much as you can. Most importantly, relax and have fun.

Resources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_speaking