I am terrified of speaking in public, and my work requires it. How can I overcome this fear?

Answer 1

There are 4 simple steps to overcoming fear when you have to speak in public.

Answer 2

First, learn about the nature of fear so that you clearly understand what you are dealing with and what the problem is. Second, be brave enough to replicate what is going on with the guidance of a coach who understands the interrelationship between thoughts, feelings, and the way energy is managed and harbored in the body. Third, through the guidance of that coach, learn skills that you have a unique competence for that allow you to manage thoughts, feelings and energy, and gain a sense of practical control over the situation. I also suggest choosing any coach wisely: Make sure that the coach can provide video feedback that allows you to evaluate the twin metrics of how you feel and how you look when presenting so that you can accurately assess improvement and what is working for you. A good coach's advice should quickly make you feel smart and empowered, rather than stupid and passive, and should foster a growing feeling of independence from, rather than dependence on the coach or additional sources of advice.

Answer 3

You may find my advice for losing your fear of public speaking a little surprising. But it works.

The fear (terror) of speaking in public is pretty universal. In my experience as a college-level communications teacher for foreign students from all over the world, I have seen them all struggle with that fear.

Public speaking, statistically, in the USA, is one of the top listed fears! I have felt it myself, too. (Nasty feeling! Chokes!) And I’ve talked about it with people who give speeches frequently. The fear can attack anyone, anytime, no matter how experienced. But there are several things that will help you to make public speaking easier.

First, know that the fear comes from ego. That’s the part of us that mentally structures our image of who we are and how we want to be seen by others. It’s necessary but generally problematic. Every human has one. Those people lined up looking at you all have egos, and their self-constructed identities, their own self-constructed “stories”.

But we all have a deeper layer of our self, too, a Universal Self. The one we were born with, before our Story was constructed on top of it. It’s our most vulnerable, and our most INvulnerable, identity. If you can access this inner You, and take that You along with you to the stage, and really look at your audience with the power and wisdom of that place, knowing they all have it too, that universal inner human core, your fear will subside. Take a moment before you speak. Don’t rush. Breathe. Look, really look. Humans. A mixture of ego and universal. Smile.

Secondly, know your subject really well. You don’t need to know everything, but enough to give them something they don’t know. And you will need to have your information at least roughly organized in a logical way in your mind. Presumably, you will be speaking to an audience interested in the information you will be giving them. Remember that you are there to serve, not to impress. Speak simply and honestly.

Information is a gift. Put yourself in the place of an audience member. What do you want from the speaker (You)? Information. Do you want the speaker to apologize for anything? No. To “show off”? No. Do you want a speaker who doesn’t have much information, or false information? Of course not. You just want real information given to you by an honest and respectful speaker. Just real talk from a real person. So be real, be honest. Give the gift you are able to give: good information. It is your gift to them. That’s quite enough.

If you the speaker can get into that mindset, of having something worth giving, and an honest desire to give it, to other human beings who have all the same fears and desires and good intentions as you, then being there, the focus of their attention, won’t be so hard. And truly, with practice, it gets easier!

There are many sources of information about accessing this mindset. Basically, it’s from all the ancient philosophies and religions about reducing the psychic pain of being human by understanding the universality of human beingness! You might pick up something in the supermarket check-out line for a modern take on “Presence”, too!

All the best to you, fellow human being, and future confident speaker!