At different times in our lives, we are all, in one way or another, faced with the need to speak in front of an audience - from reciting poems at a matinee in kindergarten or answering questions at a school blackboard, to presenting an innovative business project to potential partners and investors. What can we say about top managers, sales representatives, lawyers, artists, television journalists and representatives of other professions for whom public speaking is part of their regular duties.
However, in such moments, it can be difficult to gather your thoughts and demonstrate complete confidence in front of the public. The reason for this is fear - an evil wizard capable of overnight turning the speaker’s triumphant appearance on the “stage” into an absolutely pitiful spectacle.
Today we will talk in detail about this common destructive phenomenon. Let's consider the key features of the fear of public speaking and find ways to overcome it together with the intelligent psychologist Evgenia Shramchenko . In this case, intelligent is not only because he is experienced and qualified, but also because he can explain to his clients in simple and accessible language the algorithm for solving any problems.
Where does a phobia come from?
“My work involves frequent public speaking,” Evgenia Shramchenko begins her story. — I interact with people of different ages and professions, give lectures to young girls and serious men in formal suits. And, most importantly, I have practically no anxiety for a long time. However, this was not always the case..."
Fear of speaking in public, which, by the way, is correctly called glossophobia, is present to one degree or another in 95% of people. You may not believe it, but even famous speakers and media personalities know first-hand what it’s like to have wet palms, a dry throat, and shaky knees. The main reason for this fear is the feeling of the unknown. We are afraid of everything we cannot control. This is why many people are afraid, for example, of flying an airplane - because you cannot control the movement of the aircraft and you can only hope for the best.
There are a number of other common reasons that provoke fear of public speaking:
- unsuccessful performance experience in the past, childhood psychological trauma;
- low self-esteem;
- stress, depression at the current moment;
- lack of experience and knowledge on the topic of the speech.
Speech polishing
1. Decide on the type of speech. It happens:
- informative (transmission of factual information);
- persuasive (convincing the audience by using emotions, logic, personal experience and experiences, facts);
- entertaining (meeting the needs of those gathered).
Some performances combine several types.
2. The beginning of the speech should be interesting. You can start by communicating the main idea and a few points that you will cover later. The introductory part and conclusion are the most memorable, so give them due attention.
3. Avoid long sentences, complex words, and confusing wording.
4. To make your audience understand you better, use comparisons.
5. Repetition is a good way to remind listeners of an important point.
Types of fear of public speaking
The effectiveness of the method of overcoming a phobia directly depends on the correct definition of its varieties. Thus, the feeling of fear of listeners and audiences is called peiraphobia. Excitement and anxiety before oral speech is the so-called veirophobia. There is another popular type of fear of public speaking - lalophobia. This is the fear that during a speech the speaker will have problems with diction, stuttering, etc. This type of phobia is typical even for professional speakers and presenters.
“Of course, in the overwhelming majority of cases, the fear of public speaking has psychological roots, that is, it is associated with one of the reasons mentioned above,” says Evgenia Shramchenko. “However, there are cases when it occurs, for example, as a result of traumatic brain injuries or as a manifestation of neurotic diseases. In this case, the problem can only be solved with the help of a qualified doctor.”
Prepare in advance
The performance will go perfectly if you prepare for it in advance. Clearly formulate the purpose of your speech and decide what information you want to convey to the audience. For example: “I want listeners to understand that hiring a professional management company to service real estate is necessary in modern conditions.”
Setting a goal will motivate you to perform confidently.
American multi-billionaire Warren Buffett admitted that in his youth he was terribly afraid of public speaking. While studying at the university, he specially selected subjects in which he would not have to perform his works. To get rid of fear, he turned to the famous writer Dale Carnegie. A professional speaker helped Buffett overcome his phobia.
Photo: Unsplash
The billionaire notes that the main secret to a brilliant performance is preliminary preparation. You need to draw up a rough plan for your speech and rehearse it as if you were already speaking. It was this careful preparation that allowed Buffett to gain confidence and not be afraid to speak in front of large audiences.
Work through all possible options for questions that you may be asked, prepare answers to them. Be prepared for tricky questions; the best way in such cases is to laugh it off! Answer politely, with humor and smile, as a rule, this is disarming.
How to overcome fear of speaking: expert advice
Glossophobia, if it really becomes serious and causes inconvenience, is best dealt with with the help of a professional psychologist. After all, such a problem often interferes with career advancement and makes the life of a person who has to speak in public simply unbearable.
If public speaking is a rare occurrence, then you can try to cope with the problem yourself. Here are some universal tips that really work:
- Remember positive experiences often. Surely you have already had performances that, if they did not create a sensation, were received as positively as possible by the public. Even school reports will do. If you are going to give a public speech for the first time, it is useful to come up with and view in your imagination in every detail a film in which you are the main character - a successful speaker giving a brilliant speech. The audience is sincerely delighted, fascinated and gives you thunderous applause.
- Dedicate a lot of time to preparing for your upcoming public appearance. You must have a clear plan for your speech, thought out to the smallest detail. Attention should also be paid to the technical part: the operation of the microphone, auxiliary materials (posters, cards, flipchart, etc.). It's great if you are a real expert regarding the topic of the speech. In this case, no question from the audience will be able to take you by surprise. But in any case, it is best to think in advance about a universal answer to the questions in which you are “swimming”.
- Make sure you are well rested before your performance. Try relaxation practices and simple meditations. But cramming the night before “day X” does not work - the effect will be the opposite of what was expected.
Performance process
So, when speaking in public, remember a few fundamental things:
Start off right
Exchange a few words with the audience on an abstract topic: about the weather, how you got there, the latest news, etc. This will incredibly defuse the situation, you will become mentally closer to the audience, break down the barrier between yourself and people, and create a feeling of comfort. You won’t even notice how much easier it will be to build further dialogue.
Self-determination and representation are a very important point. Say your first and last name clearly, tell us a little about yourself, but don’t go too deep. Be concise, speak confidently, but without arrogance - this is always annoying.
Speaking...
Engage your audience actively using the visual channel. Choose eyes that are listening and intelligent, don't focus on one or two people, give attention to different parts of the audience.
Always rely on proven and truthful material. Don't forget that lies are read instantly, don't lie. You can, of course, come up with a story as an example, but connect it with a real life situation, do not exaggerate.
By the way, if you are thinking about how to present this or that material in a fascinating way, how to present information in an original and witty manner and remain in the memory of your listeners as a talented speaker, we advise you to take the online Storytelling program. In 5 weeks, you will become the owner of these and other useful skills in the field of telling absolutely any stories.
If you do make some mistakes, don’t focus on them, don’t focus on what could unsettle you. For example, while defending your thesis, the teacher asked you a question to which you did not find the answer. In this case, honestly admit “I don’t know” and move on. There is much more that you know and can tell.
Water, breathing, speed of speech
Keep your finger on the pulse! Yes, you need to be immersed in your speech, be in the material, but for a moment, evaluate yourself from the outside: check whether you are speaking too quickly, whether the audience can keep up with you, or, conversely, there are signs of boredom (someone yawns , looks at the phone or out the window for a long time, talks with his neighbor, etc.).
Don't neglect breathing and water. A significant role during a speech is given to the provision of drinks; almost all speakers have a glass of water next to them during more or less lengthy speeches. Ask that you also have the opportunity to drink, because it is difficult to perform with a dry throat.
Intonation
Intonation is a powerful tool for any speaker. By changing the volume of phrases, slowing down or increasing its speed, making rises and falls in your voice, you manipulate information, play with it and entertain the audience. Adapt the material of your speech to the required intonation, highlight more significant and less significant points and wrap it in the form of correct presentation. In addition, intonation is a transmitter of the speaker’s emotions, and no one has canceled their presence during public speaking. But don't overdo it. Do not forget about the golden mean, because too loud and too quiet chants may be inappropriate.
By using all the above tips, you will be able to perform with a bang. There is even a risk that you will like it and want to repeat it...
Some techniques and ways to overcome the fear of public speaking
In addition to universal expert advice, Evgenia Shramchenko offers FAN readers several effective techniques for dealing with the fear of speaking.
Technique “Creating a situation of failure”
You need to imagine the outcome of a situation where you had a bad performance. The microphone stopped working, the audience yawned and gradually dispersed, the speech rehearsed the day before flew out of their heads... And what will be the outcome of the event? Will something terrible happen? Absolutely not. Most likely, next time you will simply try to prepare better, check the equipment, or make the performance more emotional and interesting. Accepting this outcome and “playing it out” in your head in detail will show you that there is nothing to be afraid of.
“Loyal audience” technique
A common cause of fear is the fear that the audience will not accept the speech, will be critical, or will not listen to you at all. Therefore, before the performance, imagine that the audience is your loyal fans who do not miss a single one of your performances. Or a hall full of small children who are waiting for you in anticipation. You'll see - the fear will disappear as if by hand.
Even Breathing Technique
A method that is effective in any stressful situation is “tuning” your breathing. When fearful, the body speeds up its breathing, as if preparing to run. Our goal is to make it slow and steady. Try to make your exhalation twice as long as your inhalation. It is enough to control your breathing for two to three minutes and the fear will begin to recede.
Choose your favorites in the audience
Speaking in front of a large audience is more difficult from a psychological point of view. Before you is a huge hall that needs to be convinced and conquered. Of course, if there are more than 15 listeners in front of you, you will physically not be able to give everyone verbal attention.
Photo: Unsplash
When you begin your talk, choose a few people from the audience as your “favorites.” These could be your loved ones, friends, colleagues, or just people you like. Occasionally glance at them, as if you were talking in person. This kind of verbal support will give you more confidence in your presentation.
Can the fear of public speaking go away on its own?
Sometimes, with age (or rather, with experience), the fear of performing can actually disappear on its own. There is no magic in this - it’s just that with each new performance you become more confident in yourself and your oratory skills improve. In addition, the topic with which you have to speak becomes more and more understandable, studied and “native”.
Finally, Evgenia Shramchenko shared another effective piece of advice - enroll in public speaking or acting courses. This is where you can practice your speaking skills, identify your main mistakes and work on them.
“Acting improvisation works especially effectively: after just a month of attending such courses, you will see the result: you will be able to feel equally comfortable sitting in a cozy chair in the hall and standing on stage. Yes, it's real. I wish you all good luck, fabulous performances and a loyal audience!”
Watch your facial expressions, gestures and intonation
If you have enough time before your speech, take public speaking courses - there you will learn to speak correctly, work with diction, intonation, and learn to breathe correctly. During the course, I discovered a lot of new things for myself - I learned how to structure my report in a well-reasoned manner, present my thesis clearly and convincingly, monitor my breathing and place emphasis correctly.
The correct position often gives confidence and calm.
When preparing a speech, remember that, in addition to the competent information component, it is necessary to monitor the style of its presentation. Author of the book “iPresentation. Lessons of persuasion from Steve Jobs" Carmine Gallo advises recording rehearsals of your speeches on video.
Observing and studying your own body language and intonation will allow you to improve the way you present and therefore avoid unnecessary anxiety.
