How to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking

The fear of public speaking (also called glossophobia or speech anxiety) is a dread shared by many people. It is classified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a social anxiety disorder.

For many of us, our biggest concern about speaking publicly is being judged or criticized. So how do you cultivate a mindset that allows you to focus on delivering your message effectively rather than worrying about others’ perceptions?

This post will first dive into the symptoms and causes surrounding the fear of public speaking. Then, we’ll examine the importance of public speaking skills, and provide six tips to overcome your fear.

What Causes Fear of Public Speaking?

The fear and anxiety associated with speaking in front of others can be intense. It’s not uncommon for a first-time public speaker to break out in a cold sweat and only manage to mumble their words. Unfortunately, this makes for a less-than-engaging speech.

If the idea of public speaking terrifies you, don’t worry too much; it’s a common phobia. In the United States alone, around 75% of the population (approximately 200 million people) share the feeling. For some, it might only be a slight apprehension, but it can be completely incapacitating for others. Common symptoms of speech anxiety include:

• Nausea 
• Dry mouth
• Stiff muscles
• Excessive sweating
• Butterflies in the stomach
• Increased blood pressure
• Impaired speech
• Rapid heartbeat
• Loss of sleep

Dr. Jeffrey Strawn, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati, says that most phobias start in childhood due to a combination of genetic tendencies and other environmental, biological, and psychological factors. Fear of public speaking is generally more common in young people, and concern about evaluation or embarrassment can increase someone’s anxiety. A common cause of this fear is a young person being forced to speak in front of other people without adequate preparation, so they end up having a bad first experience.

Are Public Speaking Skills Important?

Being good at public speaking can benefit both your personal and professional life. Moreover, it can open doors to opportunities that might have otherwise remained closed.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines public speaking as “the art of effective oral communication with others.” The benefits of improving your public speaking skills include:

• Greater confidence
• Mastery of argument development
• Enhanced critical thinking
• Attentive listening skills
• Better communication

According to survey statistics, 70% of jobs require some form of public speaking, and 26% of workers report lost job opportunities due to their speech anxiety. Furthermore, those with a fear of public speaking typically earn a yearly salary that’s 10% lower than those without the fear. Like it or not, these skills are undoubtedly valuable for career advancement, and the advantages include:

• More customers and increased sales
• A larger professional network
• Increased confidence during interviews
• The ability to motivate, bring together, and inspire colleagues
• The ability to clearly express your ideas in meetings or presentations

Speaking confidently will increase your overall self-confidence, which helps you stand out both professionally and personally.

How to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking

Given all the benefits that come with being an eloquent speaker, it should be clear that refining these skills is a worthwhile endeavor. Here are six steps you can take to overcome your fear:

1. Prepare and practice 
2. Stay positive
3. Ask for and accept feedback
4. Exude confidence
5. Keep it interesting
6. Hone your skills with training

Let’s look at each of these steps in more detail.

1. Prepare and Practice

It all starts with planning. Make sure you know the primary message you want to convey. Look for interesting facts and statistics to support your claim, and prepare for any questions your audience might have. As you prepare, keep in mind to whom and the context in which you’ll be talking. Then, adjust your message and tone accordingly.

Of course, to give a good speech, you also have to practice. Recite what you’re going to say in advance. You can do this in front of a mirror or with someone you trust. Another option is to record yourself and play the speech back. When you review, pay attention to your tone, tempo, body language, and facial expressions.

2. Stay Positive

Even experienced speakers get nervous. In fact, some people believe a little anxiety can boost performance. Don’t let your feelings negatively affect you – use them as motivation to do the best job you can.

In addition, positive visualization (e.g., imagining yourself giving the best speech possible) will often help bring your goals to fruition.

3. Ask for and Accept Feedback

Ask for feedback while practicing as well as after you’ve given your speech. But make sure to ask a person you know can be objective and give specific examples of how you can improve. If it’s not possible to do this in person, you could also record yourself speaking and ask for feedback on your video.

If you know that certain areas of your public speaking skills are weak, ask the person giving you feedback to look out for those. Don’t take the feedback personally – use it to strengthen your skills and be gracious about any constructive criticism they give you.

4. Exude Confidence

Being prepared and acting confident will help you feel confident. First off, make sure you dress accordingly. If you look good, you feel good. Wear something that is appropriate for the setting in which you’ll be speaking. And make sure your clothing fits properly and is comfortable – fiddling with your clothes is distracting.

Next, be yourself. Don’t emulate anyone else while speaking. If you aren’t comfortable telling jokes, for example, don’t try to be a comedian. Letting your true self shine through will resonate with your audience.

Another tip is to make eye contact with your listeners. Moving your gaze across the audience helps everyone feel engaged. Not only will you appear more confident by doing this but you’ll also get a sense of whether people understand what you’re saying. If they look confused, you may need to explain something further.

5. Keep It Interesting

When someone is listening to a speech that’s interesting, it’s more likely to hold their attention. And if your audience is engaged, you’ll feel more comfortable. By practicing your speech in advance, you avoid having to read directly from your notes or presentation slides, which can be quite boring for listeners. Here are some other ways to keep your speech interesting:

• Include stories: Stories capture people’s attention. Starting your speech with a story can make listeners more invested in the rest of what you have to say.
• Involve the audience: Making a connection with your audience helps take the spotlight off yourself and grabs everyone’s attention.
• Have a strong conclusion: The first two tips help hook the audience’s attention during your speech, but you also need a strong ending. A call to action, an inspiring quote, or a summary of important takeaways are all options for a great finish. Make sure to also thank your audience and welcome any questions if appropriate.

6. Hone Your Skills with Training

The ability to speak well in front of others is a skill. Like any other skill, it can be improved with training. Finding a public speaking mentor, reading a book or taking a course on the topic, are all great ways to overcome your fear of public speaking and build your skills.

Becoming A Public Speaker

If you want to master public speaking, why not take our course, Becoming A Public Speaker? It teaches a repeatable process to effectively prepare you for public speaking opportunities so you can speak with confidence.

And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our friendly customer support team will be happy to help!