Photo By: ERIC SALARD, on Flickr

The #1 Fear

By: Dan D.

Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, is the majority of people’s number one fear; after heights, spiders and death. Yes, people, the fear of speaking in public is more than the fear of death itself. To most of us, public speaking is really a combination of fears; the fear of forgetting your lines, the fear of being alone, the fear of rejection and more all wrapped up into one moment. This same type of fear is related to other activities that require facing a crowd and performing like musicians, actors and athletes.

Yes, people, the fear of speaking in public is more than the fear of death itself.

People have turned down jobs that required public speaking, and students dropping classes with oral presentations has not been unheard of. It’s important, wherever you are in your career or education path, to be able to communicate effectively. Whether it’s making a presentation, pitching an idea, selling a product or running a meeting; speaking confidently and persuasively is a skill for life. Here is some advice to overcome one of the biggest fear.

Begin your presentation with a question or story. This will be the attention grabber; a good strategy to use if your audience doesn’t look too lively. A story will direct the audience’s attention to the narrative being said rather than the one saying it, so there’s less pressure on you. A question will make the audience start thinking, instead of focusing on you. Also, you may use that pause after the question to relax and review what to say next.

Practice, practice and practice even more; the best is in front of a small audience. Using a small audience is best because you can see everyone’s facial reactions as you become familiar with public speaking. Moreover, it provides an excellent way to see which of your lines need editing, where to take pauses and which gestures you’d want to use. Practice until your presentation becomes second nature; until all gestures and emphasis comes naturally without thinking too much. If you haven’t practiced, the audience may be able to tell because you’ll appear highly nervous and the destroy the entire atmosphere.

Do not underestimate the power of breathing. Before the presentation take a deep breath through your nose and exhale; embrace the feeling of your abdomen expanding and contracting. This exercise will help lower your blood pressure and make you feel relaxed. During the presentation fully breathe in and breathe out as you speak, this will coincidentally give you more time to think about what to say. Keep in mind that If you lose your breath, then you lose your ability to speak, and we wouldn’t want to that happen.

Practice until your presentation becomes second nature…

When it comes to conquering your fear of public speaking, being confident cannot be stressed enough. Be confident in yourself and what you can do and the audience will recognize and resonate with that. On the other hand, if you appear nervous and stiff, the audience will feel it and be uncomfortable as well. Walk on that stage like you’re the boss because that’s what you are. Confidence will give you the right mindset to improve your skills in public speaking.

It’s amazing how claustrophobia, fear of small spaces; aerophobia, fear of flying; kakorrhaphiophobia, fear of failure are all trumped by our fear of public speaking, glossophobia. We fear making a fool of ourselves and being judged for it. However, this can be easily resolved if you try beginning your presentation with a story or question. Furthermore, remember to breathe fully and practice accordingly. Lastly, be the most confident person in the room. Follow these tips and turn your number one fear into your greatest asset.

What’s holding you back from public speaking? Have you been able to overcome this fear? Do you have any stories to share?