Imagine standing at the bottom of an amphitheatre, with rows and columns of benches going high up into the sky. Thousands of people have taken the time to come and listen to you. No microphone. No big screens. Just you and power of your voice.
How would that make you feel?
Excited? Nervous? Like you'd literally rather jump off that cliff?
They estimate that approx. 75% of people have a fear of public speaking. It's even got a name – glossophobia. 40% admitted they turn down promotions because it would entail more public appearances, and 15% believe their promotion to senior roles is hindered by the fear.
Sad. And perfectly avoidable.
The fear of public speaking is mostly irrational as the chances of it causing you any actual harm or putting you in any danger are minimal. So why does it feel like we're fighting for our lives?
You know the symptoms well: elevated heartbeat, sweaty palms, gut-wrenching feeling in your stomach, dry mouth. You borderline forget your own name. Your legs feel leaden. Maybe you even faint or throw up.
If you've ever experienced this, I can't blame you for avoiding public speaking. I'm among the fortunate 10% who's always enjoyed the spotlight, but I've been dealing with my own phobias long enough to know how it feels to be terrified of something. If I had to get in front of other people feeling like I do when the plane takes off... Chilling.
But...
You don't have to feel like this. And I mean it.
Since the fear of public speaking is irrational, there are ways to overcome it. The path usually splits in two directions:
If you had a past traumatic experience, you would need to work through it and step by step let it go and overwrite with enjoyable speaking experiences
If you simply dislike it, you would need to build confidence and gain experience as knowing how to prepare for a presentation can eliminate the worst of the fear
Either way, you're not a lost cause.
If you want to learn more about public speaking and how to get rid of the fear, keep an eye on my LinkedIn newsletter and my blog. Every week, I will be sharing tips and exercises to try at home, great speeches breakdowns, personal stories from my coaching practice, answering your questions or reviewing your cases.
One person in the field is not a warrior – let's battle your fear together!