Glossophobia: Fear Of Public Speaking And How To Overcome It

Every human being at one stage or the other has expressed glossophobia (the fear of public speaking). It could be to answer a question in a class, to defend an assignment, to market a product, to influence political decisions etc. It is normal with humans. But with some, the fear of public speaking is very, very enormous and overwhelming on them. This write up focuses on the fear of public speaking And how to overcome it. You could also read on how you can become a successful public speaker.

Fear of public speaking is the most common of all phobias. It’s a form of performance anxiety in which a person becomes very concerned that he or she will look visibly anxious, maybe even have a panic attack while speaking. Over time, people try to protect themselves by either avoiding public speaking or by struggling against speech anxiety. In this way, people get tricked into making the fear of public speaking more chronic and disruptive. It is now our interest to talk about the fear of public speaking and how to overcome it.

Fear Of Public Speaking And How To Overcome It

Public speaking does not really have to be with much fears and trepidation. It is an experience that should be savoured and enjoyed times and times again. How can you overcome this crippling fear of public speaking?

Discover your source of fear: What really instigates fear in you? What exactly makes you frightened whenever you are to speak publicly? Discovering the source of your fear and tackling it is the first step to overcoming it. What frightens the most? The fear of making a mistake? Is it the fear of not meeting up to the standard? The fear of communicating enough to the audience? Discover the particular source of your fear and do something about it. You could sing or do anything that would take the pressure off you and focus your attention to the topic and your audience.

Be Prepared: Practice makes perfect. To overcome your fear of public speaking, get prepared. No amount of preparation is enough. Learn alot and know more of the topic you are speaking on. The more you know about your topic, the more you are focused on releasing what you know than feeding your fears. Outline your speeches, note your points. Go with a written outline that will serve as a reminder and a guideline. Let the audience know you know what you are talking about.

Use the mirror: Practice your speech in front of the mirror as if you were speaking directly to someone. Pay attention to your facial expressions, your gestures, your body movements, how welcoming you appear etc. When you have gentle expressions and a calm demeanor when you speak, you will be more welcoming to your audience and this will translate to your having increased confidence.

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Enrol for public speaking classes: Find business organizations, networks and clubs in your area (such as Toastmasters) that can afford you the opportunity to practice. Being part of a public speaking class helps you overcome your fears. You get to interact with people who faced similar issues. Others would teach you how they overcame theirs. It is also a platform where you can make your mistakes without being penalised.

Do not rush your speeches: While delivering your speech, do not rush to speak. Gently and calmly make your points. Learn how to control your breathing. Breathe deeply. Relax yourself. You are not on stage to impress but to give a solution to a given problem. That should be your focus. Talking fast during a speech interferes with your breathing patterns. If you talk too fast you will breathe less. Feeling short of breath will make you panicked. Practice slowing down when you speak, and you will be more calm and relaxed.

Learn your voice: Get a recorder and record your speech and voice. Often, most public speakers are frightened by the sound of their voice over the sound system. They begin to wonder why their voice sound the way it does. But, by recording and listening to your voice, you get accustomed to the sound of your voice. Also, you can learn your voice by placing your hands behind your ear while speaking. This will go a long way to help you out.

Here you are! How has this article been helpful to you? Please share with us. You may also want to share with us how you overcame your own glossophobia. We would be happy to hear you out. Thank you for reading Glossophobia: Fear Of Public Speaking And How To Overcome It.