Fear Of Public Speaking
Do You Have A Fear of Public Speaking?
Do you have a fear of public speaking? It’s one of the most common phobias, so if you do, you are definitely not alone. Performance anxiety is the root issue of the problem, and it stems from being nervous about looking and sounding stupid or from failing to connect with others. So, as a result, you may go out of your way to avoid speaking publicly. You can end up making life choices that revolve around this avoidance.
There is a problem with allowing this fear to take over your life. At some point, you will be unable to avoid speaking publicly. Whether it’s a speech at a wedding, anniversary party, an ice breaker at a meeting, seminar, work project, or a funeral, it’s bound to happen.
The Fear
The fear of public speaking is no different from other phobias and fears. They all result in feelings of dread and even panic. It’s natural to want to overcome this fear before you have to do any speaking. However, you have to walk through the fire if you want to put it out.
Often though, the methods that people rely on to rid their fear makes it stronger.
Think about what you can do while you speak publicly in order to feel less nervous or avoid. How can you control that fear? Make a quick list of the ways you think you can help yourself. Typically, the responses to a question like this will include things like don’t look at the audience, read the entire speech, get it over with, skip sections, encourage yourself by saying it’ll be done soon, imagine the audience in their underwear, use slides, let someone else take the lead, etc.
What exactly do you expect a list like this do for you? How will any of these things really help you? Go back to your list and write next to each of them how you think this will help you overcome your fear.
Your list and everyone else’s list will likely revolve around strategies will avoid interruptions and pauses during the speech in order to end it as soon as possible. They tend to limit any contact with the audience, and ultimately, all of them are an attempt to hide your fear. How does that really help? They are all about avoiding or denying the fear, but they limit your expression – your power as a speaker.
The role of speaker comes with power, and you have to work through the negative feelings to embrace it. Don’t rush through the experience. Don’t drone on by reading your notes emotionlessly. Don’t forget about the audience. When you resist the role of speaker, you make yourself even more anxious. It’s the opposite outcome of the one that you desire.
The Solution
You have to take your time. When you rush your talk, you have to speak faster. When you do this, it affects your breathing, and that will unconsciously increase your stress level, panic, and fear. Of course, when you rush it, the audience is unlikely to enjoy the content of your speech.
You’re essentially creating a barrier between you. While this may have been your intention, it will absolutely increase your fear factor. The less connected you are with the audience, the more unfriendly you and they will appear.
Fearful public speakers will often attempt to ignore the audience in a bid to reduce their fear. This manifests itself by avoiding eye contact. Everyone loses in this situation. You don’t get to gauge their reaction; you can’t tell who is interested or if they have questions. That causes you to turn into your own thoughts and can fuel your fuel. You might get through it, but you have sold yourself short.