Anxiety and fear of public speaking are very frequent. When it comes to speaking in front of a crowd, more than 75% of people experience some level of anxiety or nervousness. This fear is often ranked higher than spiders, heights, and death by those polled. The first thing to remember is that you are not alone in your dread.
Glossophobia is a more intense form of dread that can vary from mild uneasiness to paralyzing terror and panic. Many people afraid of public speaking either avoid them completely or suffer through them with trembling hands and a quavering voice. To be successful in several fields, you must effectively communicate and explain your ideas in a public setting. Practicing public speaking may assist you in advancing your career, expanding your business, and forming strong relationships. Promoting ideas and motivating people to take action on issues that directly affect them and society as a whole may be useful. You’ll have to present a pitch, an idea, or a body of work in front of a group of people to do any of these things well. And fear might be all that separates you from your audience at times.
Glossophobia: More than just a fear of speaking in public
When speaking in public, most of us have had apprehensions. Glossophobia, on the other hand, is a condition in which a person cannot control their anxieties and has a severe dread of public speaking, often to the point of panic.
Uncontrollable trembling, perspiration, and a fast heartbeat might accompany this. In addition to speaking in front of large groups, people with glossophobia may find it difficult to talk in meetings, classrooms, and other smaller groups. Patients may find it incredibly challenging to convey their thoughts and ideas clearly and straightforwardly due to this. As a result of glossophobia, the patient may find it difficult to attain their academic, social, or professional goals.
When giving a speech, a presentation, or performing on stage, most people are nervous or anxious. Even though they aren’t enjoying themselves, they manage to cope with the situation. On the other hand, people living with Glossophobia may purposefully avoid circumstances in which they would have to speak in public.
What Makes Us Afraid of Speaking in Public?
Fear of public speaking has less to do with the quality of a speech than how the speaker feels, thinks, and behaves when they are in front of a crowd. People are terrified of speaking in public for a variety of reasons. Four elements have been recognized as related to the fear of public speaking in theories:
1. Physiology
The stimulation of the autonomic nervous system in reaction to potentially dangerous stimuli is involved in fear and anxiety. Our bodies prepare for a fight when presented with danger. Our ability to perform easily in front of audiences is hampered by this hyperarousal, leading to an emotional feeling of terror. It eventually discourages people from seeking opportunities to speak in front of a group of people.
According to several studies, those who have greater anxiety levels in a variety of scenarios are also more likely to be uncomfortable while speaking in public. People who are more prone to anxiety may find it more difficult to overcome their fear of public speaking and would choose to avoid it. The physiological indications of terror they experience as they anticipate, prepare, and perform in public are comparable to others, but their worry is confined to public speaking circumstances.
Furthermore, some persons have anxiety sensitivity, or the dread of fear, as described by researchers. Worry sensitivity indicates that people are concerned about public speaking and their anxiety about public speaking and how it will impair their capacity to communicate effectively in difficult situations. In addition to worrying about whether their speech will achieve their goals, people with high anxiety sensitivity are also concerned that they may appear shaky in front of their audience if they are very stressed.
2. Thoughts
People’s attitudes about public speaking and their abilities as speakers are another element to consider. When people exaggerate the risks of speaking in front of a group of people, they see the event as a danger to their credibility, image, and chances of reaching an audience. Anxiety and dread of public speaking can be exacerbated by negative opinions of oneself as a speaker (I am not good at speaking in front of audiences, I am not a good public speaker, I am dull, etc.). There is a contrast between a communication and a performance focused on certain ideas.
You perceive public speaking as something that requires special talents, and you see the audience as a judge evaluating your ability to convey effectively. The major focus of communication orientation, on the other hand, is on conveying your ideas, presenting facts, or telling your narrative rather than on expressing your thoughts. The goal for persons with this attitude is to communicate with their audience in the same way that they communicate with others in their daily lives. Consider this in reverse: If you consider each discussion you have in front of another person to be “public” speaking, you have ample evidence that you can communicate effectively and clearly. You’d then approach public speaking engagements in the same way, focusing solely on delivering knowledge and ideas. The anxiety tends to be stronger when the focus turns from being heard and understood to being assessed.
3. Situations
When it comes to public speaking, while some individuals are naturally worried or don’t think they’re good at it, there are specific conditions that are likely to make most of us feel more uncomfortable.
It’s a lack of knowledge. Experience, like everything else, gives you a sense of self-assurance. You are more likely to develop a fear of public speaking if you don’t have much stage time under your belt.
Graduation of grading. The terror is heightened when there is a genuine or imagined component to the circumstance. You may be more nervous if you speak in front of a group of people who are already filling out assessment papers.
A distinction in status. You may experience a bigger dosage of anxiety tingling through your body if you are about to speak in front of individuals of higher prestige (e.g., people in higher positions at your business or groups of successful professionals in your field of work).
Ideas that aren’t familiar to you are welcome. You may be more concerned about how people will react if you express thoughts you have not yet discussed in public. When you’re presenting something new in front of a crowd, it’s more difficult to state your stance, answer queries from the audience, or deal with individuals who try to find holes in your argument.
New audiences. You may already have some public speaking and public speaking experience. You may, for example, be accustomed to speaking in front of experts in your field of expertise. When the target audience changes, there may be a sense of fear. Your confidence may be a touch unsafe if you’re speaking to a group of individuals who aren’t like the ones you regularly speak to.
4. Skills
Finally, how well-versed you are in public speaking is another aspect that adds to the fear of public speaking. Even though many individuals believe they are inherently good speakers, there is always space for improvement. Speakers who concentrate on their talents rather than depending on their innate abilities are the ones who stand out the most. There are various ways to improve your public speaking ability and improve your skillset. An effective antidote to dread is increasing competence, which leads to increased self-assurance. On the other hand, confidence isn’t enough to make you a good public speaker.
Wrapping it up!
The many advantages of sharing knowledge and thoughts in public exceed the fear of speaking in front of a group of people. The next natural question is: how can we get rid of this apprehension? Fortunately, various methods are effective in skill development and confidence building.
The keys to overcoming your fear of public speaking are preparation and experience. If you’ve done your study thoroughly, you’ll feel more confident in your ability to present a clear, fascinating speech. You’ll feel more at ease with the whole process and won’t be as nervous as you used to be. To combat your fear of public speaking, volunteer to speak at a conference, practice in virtual reality, or try any other method to get out and talk in public a few times.
