8 Ways to Win and Conquer Your Public Speaking Fears

Do you find yourself freezing up at the idea of speaking in public? Many people experience fear or anxiety when it comes to public speaking. Public speaking is a necessary part of many careers, whether delivering a crucial presentation to a department or clients or delivering a speech to a large audience. Thus, you must be able to conquer your fear or apprehensions about public speaking.

Why Are Many People Afraid of Public Speaking?

If you are afraid of talking to a crowd, you are not alone — glossophobia is a medical condition that refers to the fear of speaking in public. It is one of the most common anxiety conditions.

Several factors may lead to fears of speaking in public. Some of these may include:

The idea of perfectionism

You may want or expect things to go your way 100% of the time, but facing a large group of people — whether 20 or 200 — adds further pressure to ensure things go smoothly.

Social anxiety

Some people are naturally predisposed to feeling anxious or shy in social situations. This anxiety — which may be a socially crippling condition that prevents one from speaking or expressing their thoughts clearly — may further add to the trouble of speaking in public.

A previous experience went awry

Public-speaking situations scare some people because of past unpleasant experiences. They're nervous that it might happen again, and the fear of going through the same emotions is enough to make you wary of public speaking.

A lack of experience

When you haven’t done something before or at least feel like you have not done enough of it previously, it can be enough to make you nervous about actually doing it. In this case, not having enough public speaking experience beforehand can make you apprehensive about your upcoming performance.

What Are the Signs And Symptoms of Being Afraid to Speak in Public?

Some of the signs that you have a fear of speaking in public or glossophobia may include the following:

• Feeling short of breath
• A racing pulse, especially when standing on stage
• Cold sweats or perspiration
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• The feeling that you are about to panic

While these symptoms may make you feel that they are hard to get over, you can usually overcome them – and that starts with a change in perspective. Read on for tips on how you can conquer your public speaking fears.

8 Ways to Conquer Your Public Speaking Fears

Reconsider the idea of perfection.

Often, perfectionism can hinder you from simply doing or accomplishing things. You may become too focused on the perfect script, flawless timing, or even the right cadence that these may overwhelm you and prevent you from accomplishing anything.

Here’s a secret: audiences don’t know whether the version you give them is supposed to be perfect! Many of those who will listen to you will be hearing what you have to say for the first time — and what may sound stale to you after having repeated it in front of the mirror for the nth time may just blow them away. While there is nothing wrong with aspiring for higher standards, make sure that your pursuit of perfection is not getting in the way of accomplishing something in the first place.

Know your topic and audience.

While we advise against perfectionism, we encourage preparing beforehand — and knowing your topic and audience well. While understanding your subject matter sounds like a given, knowing who you’re speaking to is another matter. Being fully acquainted with them is one solid way to eliminate your fears and worries about talking to your audience. Invest in your audience, and you will be rewarded.

Practise aloud – even if it’s a 30-second introduction.

While many people invest time in preparing a physical presentation or notes, they do not allow enough time to practise aloud. Yet it is necessary to allow time to rehearse your presentation, even if you are just doing a 30-second introduction. In crucial presentations, the “elevator pitch” is usually the vital part of capturing your audience’s attention. You will find yourself changing, refining, or improving your content once you have put your presentation together as you naturally fit into the rhythm of your presentation. 

Practising aloud will also give you greater confidence because you will have been fully familiar with the content and flow by the time you start presenting. If you can, carry out your entire presentation a minimum of three times before you speak to a group.

Always warm up.

A presentation is akin to a performance — and warming up your body and voice at the beginning of an important day or right before your spiel will dramatically open up your body, gestures and vocal range. Five minutes of stretching and three minutes of vocalising will make you more at ease, keep you focused, and immediately tune you in to the material.

Take deep breaths to slow down your heart rate.

If you feel your heart about to race, steady your breathing by inhaling and exhaling slowly and steadily. Imagine filling up a balloon with your stress and worries upon each inhale, and letting them all out of your body upon each exhale.

Hold your microphone with your non-dominant hand.

If you are given a microphone to speak, instead of holding it in your dominant hand, switch. It allows you to free up your dominant hand and make free gestures, making you immediately feel more at ease. 

Join Toastmasters, a public speaking club, or an acting class

Again, there is no substitute for practice. Toastmasters, speaker associations, or even an acting class can teach you valuable skills and give you a safe environment to improve your public speaking or overall communication as you learn to express yourself more freely.

Hire a professional coach.

If you have a very significant presentation coming up or if your livelihood is connected at all to your communication skills, consider hiring a professional coach – top athletes would never enter a competition without the support of the best coach they can find.

Believe in yourself and see a world full of possibilities once you conquer your public speaking fears. Ready to become the best public speaker you can be? Then #LetsGetToWork! For more expert insights on embarking on a fulfilling career and building your confidence in the workplace, visit the Career Resources Hub. You can also download the JobStreet app on Google Play and the App Store for easier access.