So many of us have powerful stories to tell, knowledge to share and ideas to spread. However, we don’t share them because we are paralyzed by the fear of public speaking. This fear, also known as glossophobia, is one of the most common and powerful fears known to us. In this article, I will offer to you five unique steps to break free from this fear and unleash your personal voice.
Step 1: Acceptance
In order for us to overcome the fear of public speaking, we have to first accept that this fear is quite normal. When we speak in front of people, it puts us in a vulnerable position of potentially feeling judged. Once this happens, the amygdala, the part of our brain that responds to danger or threat, gets triggered. As a result, we experience a chemical reaction of fight or flight—heart palpitations, sweaty palms, a knot in the stomach, dry throat… Sounds familiar? This is a natural reaction, and it is our nervous system’s protective mechanism. There’s no need to judge yourself when you experience this, but instead simply learn how to manage this fear.
Step 2: Unmasking Your Fear
In addition to the social fear of public speaking, we also have our unique individual reasons to feel anxious about being in the spotlight. Get really honest and ask yourself:What am I really so afraid of?Is it the fear of:
• Not being perfect?
• Being rejected?
• Being exposed?
• Not being good enough?
• Not being understood?
• Not being accepted?
• Not being liked?
Understand what the root cause of your fear is, and then go a step further.
For example, say you identified that you have a fear of not being liked. So what? What’s the worst that can happen if this fear is realized? Will you lose your house? No. Will your spouse abandon you? No. A room full of strangers will remain strangers. That’s it!
Being able to pinpoint the root of your fear and remove the unknown parts of it will take a lot of its power away.
Step 3: Focusing On What You Can Control
There are many elements of a successful talk that you have full control of, such as:
• being well prepared
• understanding who your audience is
• using strong speech structure
• having confident body language
• engaging the audience
• improving vocal variety
• and so much more
A big part of what will make you a great speaker is gaining presentation literacy and communication skills. Public speaking is a skill, and just like any other skill, it can be learned, practiced and perfected. Remember that most great speakers were made, not born.
Step 4: Visualization
This technique, also known as mental rehearsal, is frequently used by elite athletes to achieve top performance and to break records. Visualization applies beautifully to public speaking as well, as it helps us maintain focus under pressure, manage our emotions and boost confidence by eliminating fear and doubt.
Let’s say you have an important talk coming up that is making you anxious. You will want to engineer in your mind the most optimal outcome, as well as the steps leading up to it. Engage all your senses. Imagine what you will wear that day, what color your suit or dress will be and how its fabric will feel on your skin. Smell the scent of the perfume or cologne that you will put on. Hear the music you will listen to on your way to the event, taste that first sip of coffee. Imagine being backstage and hearing the emcee announce your name. Hear the sound of applause and see the lights as you come up to the microphone. Feel yourself take a deep breath and start your speech with confidence and poise. See the audience engaging, responding, laughing and giving you a big round of applause at the end. Imagine as many details as possible, and most importantly, feelthe sense of accomplishment and confidence.
Practice visualization for five to seven minutes per day. When we imagine something, we use exactly the same neural pathways as when we do it, and this technique can help rewire your brain in a positive way when practiced consistently.
Step 5: Shifting Your Focus
One of the fastest and most effective ways to overcome your fear of public speaking is to shift your focus away from yourself and onto your audience. Instead of asking yourself:What if they don’t like me? What if I forget what to say? What if I get criticized and judged?, ask yourselfWhat can Igiveto my audience?What can theyget from me that they cannot get from anyone else? And how can I deliver my messagein the most powerful way so my audience remembers it?
Shift your attention away from your needs and instead focus on giving to your audience. You will soon see that there will be no room left to worry about what might go wrong or how you might be perceived. Not only does this shift of focus calm your fears, but it will also help you become a phenomenal speaker—one to remember!
Oftentimes we tend to run away from our fears. Instead, I challenge you to face and understand your fears of public speaking and use them as fuel to propel you to become an unforgettable, engaging and authentic speaker.
