Some people can deliver a presentation with ease. They don’t carry notes or speak with a tone too high or too low and they draw the audience in with every word. They look like they’ve been born with that rare public speaking gift. For many though, public speaking prompts physical discomfort or at least some measure of psychological distress. Fear of public speaking is one of the most common phobias. As extreme as it may sound, some experts claim it’s up there with the fear of death.
Though public speaking does not inherently pose any danger, the fear of public speaking can make or break your career. It’s also practically unavoidable. Whether you’re client-facing or in a leadership position sooner or later you are likely to have to speak to a group of five or more people. No matter how debilitating your fear of public speaking, there are always steps you can take to overcome it.
Practice makes perfect
In his book The Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell claims that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become a world-class expert in anything. Even if you never get around to mastering public speaking at that level, public speaking, like any other skill, requires that you practise to improve.
Since your job may not require it every day, this may mean that you’ll have to look outside of work for opportunities to practise. This does not mean that you need to jump head first into delivering lectures at conferences to get rid of your fear of public speaking. Start at a point where you feel challenged but not entirely overwhelmed. Consider joining or starting a book club and decide from the outset that you will be an active participant in the discussion.
Try some training
When you become relatively comfortable with these baby steps, push yourself further by signing up to a public speaking workshop. It will offer you the opportunity to get expert advice and to practise delivering speeches with others who are looking for the same kind of support. This way you’ll be able to get honest feedback and pinpoint the areas you need to work on so you can address any problems with your public speaking while dealing with your fear. Some courses also offer elements of hypnotherapy to help cure your phobia.
Grab the opportunity
There is only so much you can do to prepare yourself for the fight. At some point you need to get started. Speaking in public regularly is the only way to effectively manage your performance stress. Rather than waiting in dread to be asked a question in the boardroom or asked to prepare a presentation, volunteer when you can.
You can also continue learning along the way. Observe others in the office who speak well and think about what leaves you with a good impression of them. Why do you remember what they have said? Obviously, you don’t need to imitate them. You can only present a professional version of yourself. But there’s nothing wrong with trying to emulate them if they’re doing something that works. Learning while doing, while initially stressful, will help you curb your fear more quickly and, quite possibly, permanently.
