Glossophobia – 10 Ways To Conquer A Fear Of Public Speaking
Want to get over glossophobia – your public speaking fear? Here are the 10 best tips to help you conquer a fear of public speaking.
Let’s chat about glossophobia or a fear of public speaking.
Public speaking fear confession time: I personally used to be super scared of public speaking.
I remember getting up to do a speech in high school and university and literally shaking. I didn’t know what a tremble sounded like in my voice until I got up to do public speaking.
Are you the same? Do you start sweating at the very idea of delivering a speech?
If so, you definitely aren’t alone. Many people suffer from some form of anxiety, including panic attacks, when asked to stand in front of even a few people.
Glossophobia is perfectly normal! In fact, studies have shown that many of us are more afraid of public speaking than death.
But unfortunately, there are many occasions where we simply can’t avoid delivering a speech.
Whether it’s a business presentation, community event, or just a family gathering, there will always be times when you have to stand up and speak, so you might as well sharpen your speaking skills!
I know I needed to do it for school assessments – if you weren’t willing to do the speech then it was an automatic zero!
Now for the good news: it is POSSIBLE to get over your fear of public speaking or at least find the courage to confront it.
Learning to speak in front of a group is not only super beneficial for work reasons but also because it is so cool to conquer your fears.
Conquering that fear of public speaking could mean a raise at work, a more prominent role as a community leader, or more fulfilling relationships (because you are no longer allowing fear to hold you back in life).
Here are the top five reasons why people fear public speaking:
- Fear of failure (they think they will stuff up in some way)
- Self-doubt (they doubt their ability to deliver the information in a confident way)
- Feeling vulnerable (they hate the risk of potentially exposing their weakness)
- Fear of judgment (they worry about looking stupid)
- Being unprepared (they don’t think they are ready to do it well – but then they will never feel ready)
Conquering your fear of speaking in front of a large crowd will certainly take some time and practice, but it’s not impossible!
If you want to get over your fear of public speaking – or at least learn to face it with courage – follow these tips.
These tips are bound to help you feel more confident about public speaking:
GLOSSOPHOBIA – A FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
TIP # 1 – Prepare yourself.
To increase your chances of feeling confident, you absolutely need to be prepare yourself in advance. Prepare a game plan for your presentation.
Choose your desired result – what do you want your speech to look and sound like? – and visualize your successful speech.
GLOSSOPHOBIA – A FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
TIP # 2 – Get familiar.
Learn everything about the location/space where you’ll be delivering your presentation.
Familiarize yourself with the room the stage, microphone, staff, the room’s features, seating layout, and more, so there are no sneaky surprises on the day.
GLOSSOPHOBIA – A FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
TIP # 3 – Release your nervousness.
You should be feeling energized, pumped and focused on your presentation when you enter the room – not on how nervous you are.
Begin by taking a few deep breaths to rid yourself of your tension.
It is time to let that nervousness go. Consciously choose to release it.
GLOSSOPHOBIA – A FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
TIP # 4 – Get personal.
Imagine having a conversation with just one person in your audience, rather than trying to focus on all 50,100 or 200 faces at once (not only impossible but potentially too overwhelming).
This will allow your presentation to become more personal and feel like you are having a honest heart to heart with each individual.
GLOSSOPHOBIA – A FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
TIP # 5 – Make eye contact.
Always make sure to look the audience in the eye so you can forge a stronger connection with them.
If you are perusing the audience, make eye contact with one person at a time – as if you’re speaking directly with them.
I know it sounds like this would make it more uncomfortable but it has the opposite effect of anchoring you to a safe spot.
You are just talking to people. All is okay.
GLOSSOPHOBIA – A FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
TIP # 6 – Keep moving.
It really is up to you what you do during your speech but remember you don’t have to stay frozen to one spot if that doesn’t feel natural.
Ideally it is best to step away from behind the podium while giving your presentation if possible. Remaining hidden behind the podium could lead to the feeling of being disconnected from your audience.
Walk around the stage or stand beside the podium when presenting your speech.
GLOSSOPHOBIA – A FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
TIP # 7 – Know your audience.
If you have to do a speech, make sure you know your audience in advance because the way you speak to one group of people (high school kids for example) may differ from the way you speak to others (academics for example).
Research your audience while preparing for your presentation.
This way, you’ll know who’s going to attend and how you want to speak to them so you can better prepare yourself.
GLOSSOPHOBIA – A FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
TIP # 8 – Stay positive.
If you had to pick between being positive or being negative, which one would you want to pick?
The answer is pretty obvious but even still…so many of us hold tight to the negativity ball and refuse to let it go.
How about you instead try keeping a positive attitude when it comes to your speech. Assume you will do it well.
Assume you will get through it with courage.
Assume you can answer all the questions you might be asked at the end.
And if you don’t know an answer to something, don’t try to fake your knowledge.
Just say: “I don’t know, let me find out for you.”
That’s what a positive person would do.
GLOSSOPHOBIA – A FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
TIP # 9 – Accept invitations.
If you are invited to speak at an event or meeting, there’s a good chance that your first reaction will be HELL NO!
But even still, resist from saying those words out loud.
I challenge you to accept the offer because who knows where this opportunity will take you.
As they say, everything you want is on the other side of fear.
Always accept the offer no matter how nervous you feel because remember: the only way to get over your fear is by facing it eye to eye. Practice makes perfect!
GLOSSOPHOBIA – A FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
TIP # 10 – Find a coach.
If you have tried these tips and still feel super nervous, consider finding a coach to help you strengthen your public speaking skills before the big day.
This personal guidance (and probably extra practice) will help you gain confidence and move past your fears.
In the end, becoming an effective public speaker doesn’t have to be stressful.
You can start by following these simple tips which will empower you to overcome your fear, while building strong personal skills that can unlock many new opportunities. Feel the fear and do it anyway!
Much love,
Frances Vidakovic xx
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I’m Frances Vidakovic – a mindset & action coach for quietly ambitious women who want to stop overthinking and finally take aligned action. I help women achieve their goals and follow through on what matters, without sacrificing their sanity or soul.