How Can You Overcome Glossophobia: The Fear of Public Speaking?

Have you ever experienced shaky hands and a quavering voice when asked to speak in front of a group of people? If yes, you know what the fear of public speaking feels like. While some people may have a slight nervousness before public speaking, others may experience paralyzing fear and panic. Many people with this fear try to avoid public speaking situations at all costs. But how to overcome the fear of public speaking? With practice and persistence, it is entirely possible to overcome your fear. But first, let’s delve a little deeper to understand the symptoms and causes of public speaking fear.

What is the Fear of Public Speaking?

Glossophobia is a social phobia that can make you want to run away from the situation, causing stress. Fear of public speaking or glossophobia is not a dangerous disease or chronic condition. It is a common phobia that affects almost 75% of the population.

Symptoms of Glossophobia

People with glossophobia may experience the symptoms of social phobia, such as:-

Avoiding parties
Avoiding group conversations
Avoiding eye contact
Avoiding eating with others
Worrying about speaking on the phone or in meetings
Worrying about being judged
Worrying about doing something embarrassing
Having low self-esteem
Difficulty doing tasks with others watching

When asked to give a speech in front of a public, your brain becomes threatened and releases adrenaline and steroids. This causes your blood sugar levels and heart rate to increase. Physical symptoms of glossophobia include:-

Trembling
Rapid heartbeat
Sweating
Shortness of breath
Nausea or vomiting
Dry mouth
Dizziness
Muscle tension
An urge to get away

Causes of Glossophobia

A fear of public speaking usually begins in adolescence. Glossophobia can be caused by several factors, which include:-

Biological Factors

For some people, glossophobia may be due to genetics. Genetics can determine how your brain regulates feelings of nervousness, shyness, stress, anxiety, and fear. People may be born shy naturally, finding social situations like public speaking difficult to navigate.

Learned Behavior

A fear of public speaking can also be developed by learning from a role model. If the parents of a child are shy and avoid speaking in public, the child may think that it is an upsetting situation and can be avoided. Similarly, if the parents overprotect their shy kids, the kids won’t have the opportunity of getting used to situations that involve speaking in public.

Past Experiences

A past upsetting or stressful experience can cause people to avoid situations that involve interacting with people, such as public speaking. People who have been criticized or humiliated may develop a fear of public speaking.

Lack of Preparation

Nothing can undermine your confidence while speaking in front of a group of people, like being unprepared. This lack of preparedness can lead to a fear of failure, stopping you from moving forward. On the other hand, nothing will give you more confidence than being ready for whatever comes your way.

Now that you know what causes glossophobia, let’s understand how to overcome the fear of public speaking and deliver a confident speech.

How Can You Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking?

Most people feel nervous and anxious if they have to speak in front of an audience. Overcoming the fear of public speaking is not easy. However, the following strategies can help you cope with glossophobia.

1. Meditate Everyday to Calm Your Nerves

Good public speakers generally have a few characteristics in common - they are spontaneous, relaxed, expressive, bright, and interactive. While most of these traits can come with practice, meditating every day can help you cultivate these qualities more quickly. You may fear public speaking because your mind creates images of disaster situations, intensifying the fear. As a result, you try to memorize and recite your speech word for word - taking your focus away from the moment. Meditation can help you stay attentive in the present moment and allow you to be relaxed, spontaneous, and expressive.

The first step to ending negative mental imagery is to become aware of it. With regular meditation, you will begin to notice when your mind is creating negative images quickly. You will also be able to guide your mind back to awareness with positive and self-reinforcing thoughts. Furthermore, meditating every day can work wonders for your nerve when you are on the stage, addressing a group of people.

2. Challenge Yourself to the Fear

When you step in front of a large crowd to give a presentation, you may experience the “flight or fright” response. When your body perceives an imminent threat, it releases adrenaline as a natural emergency response. Instead of fighting this natural response, you should try to embrace, understand, and use it to your advantage.

The fear of public speaking, such as shaking hands, a trembling voice, and a racing heart, can prepare you for a challenge. So, instead of letting this fear get the best of you and take your focus away, use the fear to get ready for something big and significant.

3. Understand the Topic Well to Deliver a Confident Speech

The more you understand what you are talking about, the less likely you will forget the content or get off track. Even if you make a mistake, understanding your topic can help you recover quickly. Understanding the topic does not mean memorizing your presentation. If you memorize your script word for word and forget something in between, you will stumble, panic, and be unaware of what to say next. Therefore, to overcome your fear of public speaking, you should know what you want to say and outline the presentation’s key points.

Before preparing your presentation:

Take some time to understand the topic.
Determine what questions the audience may ask.
Prepare your responses accordingly.

To that end, here’s a pro tip: Pay special attention to the introduction, as this is the section where you are likely to feel most nervous.

4. Practice Your Speech in Front of a Mirror

One of the best ways to make you feel confident about your presentation is by practicing and preparing well. Practicing your speech can help you understand the areas you need to improve and build confidence before the final speech. You can practice in front of your friends or family to boost your confidence or practice your speech in front of a mirror.

While practicing in front of the mirror, pay attention to your facial expressions, body movements, and gestures. Why? Because your body language can play a vital role in making you look and feel more confident. When you have a calm attitude and gentle facial expressions, you will likely become more welcoming to your audience. As a result, you will gradually be able to overcome your fear of public speaking.

5. Focus on the Content, Not on the Audience

When you have already done your research on the audience before the presentation, you know what they want to hear from your speech. Therefore, you should rest assured that your message will resonate with the audience. There will always be someone in the audience who is yawning, on their phone, or looks tired or bored. Remember, none of these reactions has to do anything with you personally.

One of the most effective strategies for overcoming the fear of public speaking is to be yourself. So ensure to just focus on the content or story you are telling instead of worrying about what the audience thinks of you. Letting your personality come through will help you connect with your audience on a deeper level, and they will want to hear more from you.

6. Interact With Schoolmates and Officemates

If you are new to the world of public speaking, you should start small. Develop your public speaking skills by talking to a smaller group and build up from there. Children who have a fear of public speaking can benefit from interacting with their schoolmates and talking about various topics that they have an interest in. Talking to friends and schoolmates can be the first step to developing confidence in kids.

Similarly, working professionals can interact with their colleagues and officemates to improve their skills and overcome the fear of public speaking. The audience size does not matter, but practicing in front of your friends can help you gain confidence for speaking before a large group of people.

7. Join Support Groups or Online Classes to Boost Confidence

If you fail to overcome your fear of public speaking with practice alone, you can consider seeking help or joining a support group. These groups can offer support to people who face difficulty with public speaking. By joining a support group, you can share your thoughts and feelings with the group members, gradually overcoming the fear.

Another great way to improve public speaking and your comfort is to take online classes on public speaking. Invest in yourself as a public speaker to improve your skills. You can even watch videos of world-class public speakers to learn to deliver effective speeches and overcome the fear of public speaking.

Fear of Public Speaking is in The Mind

In some cases, people’s self-defeating thoughts can lead to the fear of public speaking. Usually, you create mental images of disaster scenarios that intensify your fear. The fear arises when you overestimate the thought of communicating your ideas in front of an audience. You may often fill your head with strong negative feelings of being judged, rejected, or embarrassed. But how to overcome the fear of public speaking created in your mind? By practice and then some more practice!

Nothing can beat the fear of public speaking as preparing and practicing your speech effectively. One of the best tips to combat the fear of public speaking is to prepare your speech so thoroughly that you can answer any question thrown at you by the public. A feeling of not knowing is the major reason for fear in people. Naturally, the easiest way to get the fear out of your head is to practice constantly.

Why Do People Need to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking?

Employers generally rank oral and written communication skills as the top skills they seek in their employees. People who experience paralyzing fear at the thought of speaking in front of an audience, whether a small group of coworkers or a room full of people, can face serious consequences in their career advancement. Moreover, they lose the opportunity to express their ideas, thoughts, talents, and outlooks to the audience.

By working on your public speaking skills, you can improve your overall communication skills, leading to greater confidence and increased opportunities to express your professional worth. When you face your fear, you become more confident in leading a presentation and become a more efficient communicator. Furthermore, when you successfully overcome your fear of public speaking, you not only enhance your essential business skills but also improve your personal communications.

Advantages of Getting Over the Fear of Public Speaking

People often try to overcome their fear of public speaking to gain professional advantages. But apart from professional gain, they can also benefit from it personally, improving their personality and character. Some of the advantages of overcoming your fear of speaking before a crowd includes:-

1. Enhance Self Confidence

One of the most notable benefits you can get from defeating glossophobia is self-confidence. Confidence allows you to speak with clarity. Moreover, when you are focused and calm, you can better manage your thoughts and emotions. Overcoming the fear makes you more sociable as compared to when you allow your fears to get the best of you. Gaining self-confidence will also help you create a positive outlook and attitude.

2. Gain Self Esteem

Another advantage that you can gain from overcoming your fear of public speaking is self-esteem. Self-esteem is a social trait that refers to how you value or regard yourself. It will not only benefit you in public speaking but will also help you shape your personality and character.

3. Master the Art of Communication

The secret to developing good communication skills largely depends on your ability to interact well, especially when you are comfortable and confident in speaking before a group of people. When you are focused on the topic rather than your fear, you may be able to comprehend the matter at hand better.

4. Develop Active Listening Skills

Active listening is as important as speaking, in fact, more. Through active listening, you get to comprehend the topics that are being discussed or interacted upon. When you overcome the fear, you can pay attention to what the other person is saying, resulting in better communication between you and the audience.

5. Achieve Verbal Proficiency

Overcoming your fear of public speaking can help you improve your speaking abilities. How? Through vocal proficiency and proper voice projection! When you fear speaking in front of an audience, you may stammer or not speak at an audible volume. However, getting the hang of public speaking can help you project your voice clearly and pronounce the words correctly.

Why should glossophobia be dealt with in childhood?

Glossophobia, fear of public speaking, or stage fright is a very common type of social anxiety that may lead to confusion, dizziness, heart palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath, and more. Children today are finding their voice earlier than ever before. Those who learn to engage with an audience at an early stage have an edge as they enter adulthood. Effective public speaking skills help them reflect their creativity, confidence, resourcefulness, and grit.

The best time to work on public speaking skills is in childhood because children between the ages of 10 to 17 have built-in opportunities to overcome their fear and develop public speaking skills at school and home. Not only does overcoming this fear help them in school, but also in their workplaces in the future. But how to overcome the fear of public speaking in kids? By teaching them to become confident in every situation! Some techniques for building confidence include:-

Deep breathing: Anyone can get nervous about the thought of speaking before a group of people. Teaching your kid to take a few deep breaths before speaking can help quiet the butterflies in their stomach.
Avoiding direct eye contact: We often tell people to look at the audience while speaking. However, for little kids, that can be a nerve-racking experience. Direct eye contact with the audience can make the child forget everything. Instead, teach your child to either look at the top of people’s heads or their noses and avoid direct eye contact.
Practicing in authentic situations: Kids do not experience fear in situations they are already aware of. Therefore, encourage your child to converse with the shopkeeper or order at the restaurant. These opportunities can help the child become familiar with public speaking situations and overcome their fear of public speaking.

By helping your child overcome these fears in childhood, you help them develop positive self-worth and exceptional leadership qualities. Moreover, they experience a boost of confidence, helping them be successful in their future endeavors.

Takeaway

The fear of public speaking is nothing but the fear of the unknown when you are not prepared. However, you need not be concerned about how to overcome the fear of public speaking because there are several ways to do that. We have mentioned some sure-shot tips to help you get up to that stage and conquer your public speaking fear. You must remember that public speaking is a skill that is essential in every aspect of life. When you are ready for anything, the fear gets replaced with confidence. Preparation generates confidence, which in turn allows you to stand in front of an audience and give your best shot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fear of public speaking called?

The fear of public speaking is called glossophobia, which is a surprisingly common phobia that can range from slight anxiety to paralyzing panic and fear. It is derived from the Greek words “glossa” (tongue) and “phobos” (fear). People with glossophobia tend to avoid public speaking situations. When asked to speak before a small or large group of people, they experience a quavering voice and shaky hands.

How can I overcome my public speaking fear?

Practicing is the key to gaining confidence and overcoming the fear of public speaking. Knowing the topic meticulously and preparing well can help deliver a confident speech in front of an audience. One can also do some deep breathing exercises before getting up to the podium to calm their nerves. Furthermore, they can join online classes for public speaking to help them defeat their fear.

Why is public speaking a fear?

When a person is not prepared well, they lack confidence, leading to the fear of public speaking. Public speaking becomes a fear when one overestimates the thought of communicating their ideas in front of a group of people. Moreover, they may experience glossophobia when they view the event as a potential threat to their image or credibility.

Is public speaking a major fear?

According to most studies, the fear of public speaking is the most common phobia in the world. Millions and millions of people are frightened to step on the stage and speak in front of a group of people. Almost 75% of the population has a fear of public speaking, making it the most common phobia that exists.

Can glossophobia be cured?

Yes, glossophobia can be cured. Several strategies can help a person overcome their fear and navigate public speaking situations. These strategies include meditating, knowing the topic well, focusing on the content, joining support groups or online classes, etc. Furthermore, glossophobia can also be cured with cognitive behavioral therapy or medications to treat anxiety disorders.

Is the fear of public speaking social anxiety?

Yes, the fear of public speaking is a type of social anxiety disorder. It gets triggered by the thought of speaking in front of others. Medically known as glossophobia, this fear can cause physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, sweating, dizziness, and even panic attacks.