Tag: Fear of Public Speaking

Public Speaking Anxiety: Facts, Stats, and Methods to Beat It

Fear of Public Speaking

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Jun 11, 2014

If you’re suffering from glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, take comfort in the fact that you’re not alone. An estimated 75% of the world population suffers from some degree of public speaking anxiety.

Don’t worry. Public speaking anxiety doesn’t have to hold back your career.

Most people cope with their anxiety through avoidance. But since public speaking and presentations are important in most work environments, this isn’t a viable option. Your career might require you to step up to the podium, and it doesn’t have to become the dreaded scenario you’ve imagined.

Deal with the symptoms

Public speaking anxiety manifests itself through different physical symptoms, some of which are listed below:

  • breathlessness
  • fast heart rate
  • shaking or trembling
  • cold sweat

These are caused by your body’s ‘fight or flight’ response. Calm your body down through some relaxation methods.

The easiest thing you can do is to take slow, deep breaths until you feel your heart rate slow down.

Prepare as much as you can

With your “fight or flight” response triggered, you’re sure to encounter problems concentrating. When you feel your mind has gone blank, you’re more likely to stammer thoughtlessly through your presentation.

Most people identify this as the main cause of their public speaking anxiety. Prepare for your upcoming presentation as much as you can to avoid being swept away by your nervousness.

Your preparations should include creating a script and memorizing its general structure. Don’t write down everything you want to say and memorize it word for word. Your delivery might become stiff and lifeless. Worse, you might forget what comes next.

Practice your speech consistently. Do it in front of a mirror until it feels like second nature. If you can, gather a small group of people you trust and have them sit through your rehearsal. Ask them for any pointers or advice for improvement.

Maintain a positive outlook

Focusing on negative thoughts can make your public speaking anxiety worse. It’ll be hard to completely eradicate your concerns, but try to frame them into a more positive outlook.

Identify your concerns and listen to the negative thoughts that feed them. Ask yourself why you might feel this way, and give yourself some positive reinforcement.

For example: You’re anxious that the audience will be dismissive of your presentation and judge your authority or knowledge on the topic at hand.

Instead of questioning your ability to deliver, remind yourself of the research and preparation that went into your presentation. If they bring up anything you’ve missed, don’t take it as a personal attack but a helpful criticism you can use to improve your work.

The Takeaway: Acknowledge your fear

People with public speaking anxiety often fight to hide their fears from their audience. This will only aggravate your nervousness by giving you one more thing to worry about.

As the statistics in the infographic suggests, your public speaking anxiety is perfectly normal. It’s even likely that someone from the audience has the same fears that you do.

Once you’ve smoothened out the edges, having a well-designed PowerPoint presentation should match your winning pitch. But most importantly, it’ll help you connect with your audience better.

Despite your anxiety, remember that you’re not just addressing an auditorium of faceless people. You’re speaking to people with their own ideas on what they find interesting. If your audience is engaged and at ease, you’ll be able to relax and move forward with your presentation.

 

References

Glossophobia. Accessed June 11, 2014.
“10 Relaxation Techniques That Zap Stress Fast.” WebMD. Accessed June 11, 2014.

Overcoming a Public Speaking Disaster: A Lesson from Michael Bay

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Rick Enrico

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Jan 13, 2014

If you have been paying attention to recent pop culture news feeds lately, you may have heard of the phenomenon known as, “The Michael Bay Meltdown.”

During a Samsung CES press event that introduced their new 150-inch model television, the famed director was supposed to describe the product in detail. He started out great. When the teleprompter failed, however, he decided to just give up and casually walk off stage. If you haven’t had a chance to see the viral video, you can check it out here.


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The fear of speaking in front of many people is a fear that most of us share. Whether it’s in front of an audience of one or a few hundred, public speaking can be intensely nerve-wracking. It causes any normal human being to experience moments of sheer panic. The best ways to learn from your presentation mistakes are to actually make them and adhere to these changes later down the road.

Though Michael Bay blamed the teleprompter failing for his public speaking woes, being the presentation specialists that we are, there are various lessons to take away from his blunder that could have, and will happen, to any presenter at any time.

1. Don’t Memorize a Script

Memorizing a script isn’t always good when it comes to public speaking. Talking points are far different than following an actual script or prompt, and focusing on memorizing your verbiage will allow for more opportunities to slip up and freeze. Though you should always be prepared with a script, don’t focus on remembering your content word for word.

Try to focus on describing and elaborating your information with your slides. If you slip up or get lost, your slides are there to highlight your talking points and act as an outline — which is crafted in your storyboard. Improvisation is always a great alternative if you slip up!

The mistake that Michael Bay made was that he was so focused on doing a word for word delivery. Unfortunately, it only caused him to freeze up. If he had just improvised his speech, this would’ve helped him get past the situation.

2. Being Honest Will Help You in The Long Run

Everyone is bound to slip up and make mistakes, especially with public speaking. Apologizing to your audience and throwing in some laughter will show how honest and sincere you are – and this is key to being a credible presenter.

If you can’t remember what to say, or mess up your words, just laugh it off to ease the situation then apologize and move forward. Chances are your audience wouldn’t have even noticed! If you get frustrated, just take a deep breath and continue to speak. Just giving up and walking off stage like Michael Bay did shows a lack of maturity and preparation.

3. Own Up to Your Mistakes

Michael Bay made a monumental mistake by announcing to his audience that the teleprompter failed. Never let your audience become aware of your faults. This not only takes away your credibility but shows them that you are not responsible enough to fix the errors yourself.

If technical difficulties occur with the PowerPoint presentation, a public speaking professional will step up and engage with the audience until the problem is solved.

Conclusion

All in all, there is no way you can prevent a presentation or a public speaking disaster from happening. Things will go wrong, you’ll get nervous and forget your words sometimes. But giving up entirely is never the proper, or professional, solution.

Reference

“Watch: Director Michael Bay’s CES Fail.” Bloomberg.com. Accessed January 13, 2014.

Ums, Likes, and You-Knows: Avoiding Fillers in Your Presentations

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Aug 21, 2013

Using filler words like “um,” “like,” and “you know” can diminish the impact of your presentation and make you appear less confident or prepared. While these words are common in everyday speech, they can become distracting when used excessively in professional settings. Avoiding fillers takes practice, but doing so will make you sound more polished, confident, and credible.

Here are strategies to help you reduce filler words and improve your presentation delivery:

1. Practice, Practice, Practice

One of the primary reasons people use fillers is that they’re unsure of what to say next. Practicing your presentation several times helps you become more comfortable with the content, reducing the need to rely on fillers.

How It Helps:

  • Builds Familiarity: The more familiar you are with your material, the less likely you are to pause and search for words.
  • Boosts Confidence: Practice makes you feel more confident, which reduces nervousness and filler words.

Example: Rehearse in front of a mirror or record yourself delivering the presentation. Review the recording to identify any unnecessary fillers and work on eliminating them.

2. Slow Down Your Speaking Pace

Speaking too quickly is another common reason people resort to fillers. When you rush through your presentation, your brain may struggle to keep up with your speech, causing you to insert “um” or “like” as placeholders.

How It Helps:

  • Gives You Time to Think: Slowing down allows you to think ahead about what you’re going to say next, eliminating the need for fillers.
  • Enhances Clarity: A slower, more deliberate pace makes your words clearer and easier to understand.

Example: Consciously pause between sentences or key points to give yourself time to think. This also helps emphasize important ideas and makes your speech more engaging.

3. Embrace Pauses

Many presenters use fillers because they’re uncomfortable with silence. However, strategic pauses can be far more effective than fillers. Pausing gives your audience a moment to absorb what you’ve said and makes your delivery more impactful.

How It Helps:

  • Adds Emphasis: Pausing before or after key points emphasizes their importance.
  • Breaks the Habit: Consciously using pauses instead of fillers will help you retrain your brain to avoid unnecessary words.

Example: Instead of saying “um” while transitioning between slides, simply pause for a moment. This brief silence can make your presentation feel more composed.

4. Focus on Breathing

When you’re nervous, your breathing can become shallow, leading to rushed speech and fillers. By focusing on deep, controlled breaths, you can keep yourself calm and avoid the need for fillers.

How It Helps:

  • Keeps You Calm: Deep breathing reduces anxiety, helping you maintain control over your speech.
  • Paces Your Speech: Focusing on your breathing naturally slows down your speaking pace, reducing fillers.

Example: Before starting your presentation, take a few deep breaths to calm your nerves. During the presentation, remember to breathe deeply between sentences.

5. Use Transitional Phrases

Often, fillers are used when presenters don’t know how to transition smoothly between ideas. Replacing fillers with well-thought-out transitional phrases will make your presentation flow better and sound more professional.

How It Helps:

  • Smooth Transitions: Instead of using “uh” or “like,” employ phrases such as “Next, I’d like to discuss…” or “To build on that point…”.
  • Keeps You Focused: Using clear transitions ensures that you stay on track and reduce the likelihood of resorting to fillers.

Example: Instead of saying, “Um, so, like, the next point is…,” say, “Now that we’ve covered the introduction, let’s move on to the key findings.”

6. Record Yourself and Take Note of Patterns

Recording yourself while practicing allows you to identify where and how often you use fillers. Once you know your filler patterns, you can actively work on reducing them.

How It Helps:

  • Identifies Triggers: You’ll be able to see when and why you tend to use fillers (e.g., during transitions or when introducing new concepts).
  • Track Progress: Recording yourself multiple times lets you monitor your improvement over time.

Example: Record your practice sessions and note when you say “um” or “like.” Focus on those areas during your next rehearsal and actively work on removing the fillers.

Final Thoughts

Eliminating filler words from your presentations can significantly enhance your delivery and make you appear more confident and professional. By practicing regularly, embracing pauses, slowing down, and focusing on smooth transitions, you can reduce or eliminate fillers and deliver a polished, impactful presentation.

A Guide to Tackling Stage Fright

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Aug 13, 2013

Public speaking can be intimidating, even for seasoned professionals. Stage fright, or the fear of speaking in front of an audience, affects many presenters. Whether it’s the thought of being judged, making mistakes, or simply standing in front of a crowd, stage fright can interfere with delivering your message effectively. However, with the right approach, you can overcome this anxiety and deliver a powerful presentation. Here’s a comprehensive guide to tackling stage fright and becoming a more confident speaker.

1. Prepare Thoroughly

The foundation of a successful presentation lies in preparation. When you know your material inside out, you’re less likely to stumble or lose your train of thought. Break your content into key points and rehearse them multiple times until you’re comfortable.

  • Organize Your Content: Outline the structure of your presentation clearly, with an engaging introduction, body, and conclusion.
  • Practice Out Loud: Rehearsing your speech out loud can help you hear how your ideas flow and allow you to make necessary adjustments. If possible, practice in front of a friend or record yourself.
  • Familiarize Yourself with the Venue: If you have access to the presentation space beforehand, take a walk around the stage and familiarize yourself with the setup.

2. Visualize Success

Visualization is a powerful tool that can help you conquer stage fright. Instead of focusing on what could go wrong, visualize yourself delivering a confident and engaging presentation. Picture the audience reacting positively, and imagine the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel afterward.

  • Focus on Positive Outcomes: Think about your audience being engaged and applauding your performance. Visualizing success can boost your confidence and reduce nervousness.
  • Adopt a Power Pose: Before going on stage, stand in a confident posture for a few minutes—this is known as a “power pose.” It can trick your brain into feeling more assured and in control.

3. Practice Deep Breathing

When anxiety strikes, your heart rate increases, and your breathing may become shallow. Deep breathing exercises are a quick and effective way to calm your nerves before stepping on stage.

  • Breathe Deeply: Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of four, hold for four, and then exhale for another count of four. Repeat this several times until you feel more centered.
  • Relax Your Body: As you breathe, consciously relax your muscles, especially in your shoulders and neck, where tension often accumulates. This will help you feel more grounded and composed.

4. Focus on the Message, Not Yourself

A common source of stage fright is the fear of being judged. Shift your focus away from yourself and place it on the message you’re trying to convey. Remember that the audience is there to gain something valuable from your presentation, not to scrutinize every word or gesture.

  • Shift Attention to the Audience’s Needs: Concentrate on how your presentation benefits the audience. By focusing on their needs rather than your own performance, you can divert your mind from self-consciousness.
  • Engage the Audience: Ask questions, encourage participation, or share stories to make the presentation more interactive. Engaging with the audience helps to build a connection, making the experience less daunting.

5. Start with a Strong Opening

First impressions matter. Starting your presentation confidently can set the tone for the rest of your performance. Craft an opening that grabs attention and gives you a sense of control.

  • Use a Powerful Quote or Statistic: Starting with a compelling quote, statistic, or even a short story can draw in the audience and boost your confidence from the beginning.
  • Make Eye Contact: Engage with the audience by making eye contact with a few friendly faces in the room. This will make the presentation feel more conversational and help calm your nerves.

6. Accept and Embrace Nervousness

It’s important to recognize that nervousness is a natural part of public speaking. Even experienced presenters feel anxiety before a big speech. Rather than trying to eliminate your nerves, work with them.

  • Channel Nervous Energy Positively: A certain level of anxiety can actually heighten your focus and make you more alert. Channel this energy into enthusiasm for your subject.
  • Normalize Your Feelings: Remember, many people in the audience likely experience stage fright themselves, and they will empathize with you.

7. Use Positive Affirmations

The way you talk to yourself matters. Negative thoughts like “I’ll mess up” or “They won’t like my presentation” can intensify anxiety. Replace these thoughts with positive affirmations.

  • Repeat Positive Phrases: Tell yourself things like, “I am well-prepared,” “I can do this,” or “The audience wants to hear what I have to say.” This shift in mindset can significantly reduce stress and build confidence.

8. Learn to Laugh at Mistakes

Mistakes happen to everyone. What matters is how you handle them. Instead of getting flustered, laugh off small errors and move on. Your audience is likely more forgiving than you think.

  • Don’t Dwell on It: If you stumble over a word or lose your train of thought, take a breath, smile, and continue. Chances are the audience won’t even notice.
  • Use Humor: If appropriate, self-deprecating humor can lighten the mood and show the audience that you’re human too.

9. Gather Feedback and Reflect

Once the presentation is over, gather feedback from trusted colleagues or audience members. Use their constructive criticism to improve for future presentations. The more you present, the more comfortable you’ll become.

  • Reflect on Your Successes: Take time to acknowledge what went well in your presentation. Focusing on your strengths will build your confidence for next time.
  • Embrace Continuous Improvement: Feedback is essential for growth. View each presentation as an opportunity to refine your skills and lessen your fear over time.

Final Thoughts

Stage fright may seem overwhelming, but with practice and the right techniques, it can be managed. By focusing on preparation, engaging with the audience, and maintaining a positive mindset, you can overcome anxiety and deliver presentations with confidence. Remember, every great presenter has felt fear at some point—what sets them apart is their ability to face it head-on and continue moving forward. You’ve got this!

Public Speaking Lessons to Take Away from “The King’s Speech”

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Aug 06, 2013

Released to huge acclaim from audiences and critics in 2011, The King’s Speech details King George VI’s struggle to overcome his stammer and fear of public speaking, and his relationship with his unconventional speech therapist Lionel Logue.

While it’s a very captivating movie, it also has a lot of practical application as a guide to public speaking, and there are many lessons to learn from the challenges King George VI overcame during his journey in becoming an effective public speaker.

Confidence is Key

The primary struggle of The King’s Speech is King George VI’s struggle to learn to trust his voice. Throughout the film, he learned to become comfortable in his own skin and accept his faults, which translated to overcoming his stutter.

Confidence is imperative to giving an effective presentation, especially during an investor or interview presentation where instilling confidence in one’s audience is a must. It’s difficult to fake sincere confidence, which emanates throughout your presentation in a variety of ways, but if you can’t find confidence in your ability to speak in public, a good substitute is to reassure yourself with confidence for what you’re presenting.

During the film, a primary reason “Bertie” developed his stammer and fear of public speaking was because he got caught in a cycle of negative reinforcement, where previous public speaking failures caused him to lose confidence in himself, and resulted in him continuing to give poor speeches because of it. After a bad presentation, it’s important to learn from your mistakes, then forget about the bad performance and move forward.

Realize There is Room for Improvement

Chances are you’re not the greatest presenter or public speaker on the planet. There is always room for improvement. However, for those who struggle with public speaking, the greater challenge isn’t realizing you have a problem, but openly addressing it.

Whether you seek to improve your public speaking privately, with a college course or elsewhere, the most important factor is that you are addressing the fact that public speaking is a challenge for you. Running and hiding from it will do nothing but make the problem worse.

One of my favorite moments in The King’s Speech was the conversation between “Bertie” and his speech therapist when he admitted he needed help:

“Lionel Logue: What was your earliest memory?
King George VI: I’m not… -here to discuss… -personal matters.
Lionel Logue: Why are you here then?
King George VI: Because I bloody well stammer!”

Practice

Every great presenter, especially those whose skill appears to be effortless and relaxed, became great through practice and repetition.

In Malcolm Gladwell’s popular book, “Outliers,” he presents the “10-hour rule” as the reason for success behind Bill Gates’ wealth and business success and the enormous popularity of the Beatles. He theorizes that these two entities had approximately 10,000 hours of exposure to their craft, which is what made them become so legendary.

Practice and experience produces success. Great presentations aren’t improvised. If you want to “wow” an audience, you have to put in the work.

Rehearse your presentation until it’s ingrained in your memory–to the point of monotony. Orchestrate your talking points with your visual aid.

Check out ‘The King’s Speech’ if you haven’t seen it yet. It’s a captivating film where you can find lessons ingrained within the challenges overcome by this tongue-tied monarch.

Controlling Your Physiology for Your Presentation

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Jul 12, 2013

Controlling your physiology during a presentation is crucial for projecting confidence, maintaining focus, and engaging your audience. Here are key techniques to help manage your body and nervous energy while presenting:

1. Breathing Control

  • Why it works: Deep, controlled breathing helps calm your nervous system, reduces anxiety, and ensures that your voice projects clearly and steadily. Shallow or rapid breathing can lead to a shaky voice or feeling lightheaded.
  • How to do it: Practice diaphragmatic breathing (also known as belly breathing). Inhale deeply through your nose for four counts, hold for a couple of seconds, and then exhale slowly through your mouth for four counts. This not only reduces stress but also helps regulate your heart rate.

2. Power Poses

  • Why it works: Studies, particularly by social psychologist Amy Cuddy, suggest that holding expansive, open body postures (power poses) for two minutes can boost confidence by increasing testosterone levels and reducing cortisol (the stress hormone). This can make you feel more assertive and in control.
  • How to do it: Before stepping on stage, adopt a power pose like standing with your hands on your hips or reaching your arms overhead. This opens up your body and helps you mentally prepare for the presentation.

3. Mindful Posture

  • Why it works: A strong, balanced posture projects confidence and authority while also preventing physical fatigue. Slouching or closed-off postures (e.g., crossed arms) can signal nervousness and cause the audience to disengage.
  • How to do it: Stand or sit with your shoulders back, chest open, and spine straight. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, and use open gestures to reinforce your message.

4. Movement with Purpose

  • Why it works: Controlled and intentional movement helps convey confidence and keeps your audience engaged. Unconscious pacing or fidgeting, on the other hand, can be distracting and signal nervousness.
  • How to do it: Move intentionally during transitions or key points. For example, take a step forward when emphasizing an important idea, or move to one side of the stage to engage a different part of the audience. Avoid random, unnecessary movement.

5. Facial Expressions and Eye Contact

  • Why it works: Your face conveys emotions and helps build rapport with your audience. Eye contact helps establish a connection and keeps your audience engaged, while smiling can make you appear more approachable and confident.
  • How to do it: Practice making eye contact with different audience members, moving your gaze across the room in a controlled manner. Avoid staring at notes or the screen for too long. Use facial expressions that match the tone of your content—smile when appropriate, and show sincerity during serious points.

6. Managing Nervous Energy

  • Why it works: Everyone experiences some level of nervousness before a presentation. Instead of trying to eliminate it completely, channel this energy into enthusiasm and engagement.
  • How to do it: Convert nervous energy into dynamic gestures, animated delivery, and a positive tone of voice. Additionally, engaging in a brief, physical warm-up before your presentation (e.g., stretching or shaking out your hands) can help release some of that nervous tension.

By focusing on these physiological elements, you can improve your performance and ensure that your body language supports, rather than detracts from, your message. Maintaining control of your breathing, posture, and movement not only calms your nerves but also enhances your connection with the audience.