7 Tips for Public Speaking Anxiety
Reviewed By: Owners
Written By: Our Team
Glossophobia: the fear of public speaking.
Why You Are Afraid of Public Speaking
People are afraid of public speaking for many reasons. Most of these reasons stem from poor self-image. Being judged, coming off as “dumb”, and thinking people will not believe you or think you are credible are all examples of poor self-image.
First, people form opinions of just about everyone they come into contact with. This is also known as impressions. While being judged can be scary, everyone does it to everyone. Rather than focusing on bad opinions the audience forms about you, focus on getting your message across so they can form accurate opinions on that instead.
Second, coming off as “dumb” may sound bad but can be used towards your benefit. For example, you are having a conversation with someone about the upcoming election, they appear to know more information than you do and you begin to feel belittled by your lack of intelligence on this topic but by this happening, you can in turn learn from them and bring that newfound knowledge to your next conversation.
Third, thinking people will not believe you or think you are credible is a combination of the two listed before. You may start to think people perceive you as a fraud. This mixed with self-doubt can be dangerous because it is easy to imagine exaggerated scenarios before any events occur.
Fear Related to Public Speaking
Did you know that the idea of presenting in public is the number one admitted fear in the United States? A study was conducted by Witts and colleagues of 48 males and 48 females where they had to present for 5 minutes and take psychological tests before and after their presentation. Witts found two different groups experiencing anxiety patterns during this experiment:
Habituaters
People with low-trait anxiety get nervous before speaking but begin to relax once they get started. They get used to being in front of their audience, get more focused, and become comfortable presenting.
Sensitizers
People with high-trait anxiety, however, are anxious when they start speaking and get more anxious as they go on. They begin to focus on unpleasant indicators such as “Oh my gosh, my hands are shaking and my voice is cracking” rather than taking a deep breath and focusing on the message at hand.
Tips for Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety
Before speaking:
● Visualize.
Picture yourself in the classroom or in the meeting room, standing up, taking your notes to the podium, and so on. Visualize a successful outcome.
● Practice.
Practice going through your presentation, over and over again. Practice with someone who is supportive, so that you learn to succeed rather than to fail.
During your speech:
● Dry mouth?
Take a sip of water.
● Knees locking?
Shift your weight and bend your knees.
● Hands trembling?
Place them together.
● Voice is quivering?
Pause, take a deep breath or two, and smile. It is amazing what a smile will do.
● Sweating?
Forget about it. People only notice if you bring attention to it.
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The Healing Center in Las Vegas provides tailored mental health services facilitated by a team proficient in addressing diverse cultural backgrounds. Certified therapists deliver in-person or remote sessions, aiming to reduce stigma and foster a mentally healthy community. Our Boutique Psychotherapy Center employs spiritually attuned counselors, employing various techniques to reconnect individuals with their inner selves and foster self-worth.
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For further information on their therapies or to schedule a consultation, please visit The Healing Center's website at https://www.thehealingcentervegas.com/.
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