How can I overcome my fear of public speaking?
Answer From Craig N. Sawchuk, Ph.D., L.P.
Fear of public speaking is a common form of anxiety. It can range from slight nervousness to paralyzing fear and panic. Many people with this fear avoid public speaking situations altogether, or they suffer through them with shaking hands and a quavering voice. But with preparation and persistence, you can overcome your fear.
These steps may help:
- Know your topic. The better you understand what you're talking about — and the more you care about the topic — the less likely you'll make a mistake or get off track. And if you do get lost, you'll be able to recover quickly. Take some time to consider what questions the audience may ask and have your responses ready.
- Get organized. Ahead of time, carefully plan out the information you want to present, including any props, audio or visual aids. The more organized you are, the less nervous you'll be. Use an outline on a small card to stay on track. If possible, visit the place where you'll be speaking and review available equipment before your presentation.
- Practice, and then practice some more. Practice your complete presentation several times. Do it for some people you're comfortable with and ask for feedback. It may also be helpful to practice with a few people with whom you're less familiar. Consider making a video of your presentation so you can watch it and see opportunities for improvement.
- Challenge specific worries. When you're afraid of something, you may overestimate the likelihood of bad things happening. List your specific worries. Then directly challenge them by identifying probable and alternative outcomes and any objective evidence that supports each worry or the likelihood that your feared outcomes will happen.
- Visualize your success. Imagine that your presentation will go well. Positive thoughts can help decrease some of your negativity about your social performance and relieve some anxiety.
- Do some deep breathing. This can be very calming. Take two or more deep, slow breaths before you get up to the podium and during your speech.
- Focus on your material, not on your audience. People mainly pay attention to new information — not how it's presented. They may not notice your nervousness. If audience members do notice that you're nervous, they may root for you and want your presentation to be a success.
- Don't fear a moment of silence. If you lose track of what you're saying or start to feel nervous and your mind goes blank, it may seem like you've been silent for an eternity. In reality, it's probably only a few seconds. Even if it's longer, it's likely your audience won't mind a pause to consider what you've been saying. Just take a few slow, deep breaths.
- Recognize your success. After your speech or presentation, give yourself a pat on the back. It may not have been perfect, but chances are you're far more critical of yourself than your audience is. See if any of your specific worries actually occurred. Everyone makes mistakes. Look at any mistakes you made as an opportunity to improve your skills.
- Get support. Join a group that offers support for people who have difficulty with public speaking. One effective resource is Toastmasters, a nonprofit organization with local chapters that focuses on training people in speaking and leadership skills.
If you can't overcome your fear with practice alone, consider seeking professional help. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a skills-based approach that can be a successful treatment for reducing fear of public speaking.
As another option, your doctor may prescribe a calming medication that you take before public speaking. If your doctor prescribes a medication, try it before your speaking engagement to see how it affects you.
Nervousness or anxiety in certain situations is normal, and public speaking is no exception. Known as performance anxiety, other examples include stage fright, test anxiety and writer's block. But people with severe performance anxiety that includes significant anxiety in other social situations may have social anxiety disorder (also called social phobia). Social anxiety disorder may require cognitive behavioral therapy, medications or a combination of the two.
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May 17, 2017
- Social anxiety disorder (social phobia). In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association, 2013. http://dsm.psychiatryonline.org. Accessed April 18, 2017.
- 90 tips from Toastmasters. Toastmasters International. https://www.toastmasters.org/About/90th-Anniversary/90-Tips. Accessed April 18, 2017.
- Stein MB, et al. Approach to treating social anxiety disorder in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed April 18, 2017.
- How to keep fear of public speaking at bay. American Psychological Association. http://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/02/tips-sidebar.aspx. Accessed April 18, 2017.
- Jackson B, et al. Re-thinking anxiety: Using inoculation messages to reduce and reinterpret public speaking fears. PLOS One. 2017;12:e0169972.
- Sawchuk CN (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 24, 2017.
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Impressive! Now, let's dissect the key concepts in this article. First and foremost, the fear of public speaking is discussed as a common form of anxiety, ranging from slight nervousness to paralyzing fear and panic. The article is authored by Craig N. Sawchuk, Ph.D., L.P., adding credibility to the information.
The suggested steps to overcome the fear include:
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Know your topic: Understanding and caring about the subject reduces the likelihood of mistakes and helps in quick recovery if you get lost.
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Get organized: Planning your presentation, including props and aids, in advance helps reduce nervousness. The article recommends using an outline on a small card to stay on track.
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Practice, practice, practice: Rehearsing your presentation several times, seeking feedback from familiar and unfamiliar audiences, and even making a video for self-evaluation are emphasized.
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Challenge specific worries: The article advises identifying and challenging specific worries by assessing probable outcomes and providing objective evidence against them.
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Visualize success: Positive thinking and imagining a successful presentation are suggested to counteract negativity and anxiety.
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Deep breathing: Calming techniques, such as deep breathing, are recommended to manage anxiety before and during the speech.
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Focus on material, not the audience: The article reassures that people primarily pay attention to the information being presented, not the speaker's nervousness.
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Don't fear silence: Emphasizing that a moment of silence is not as noticeable to the audience as it feels to the speaker, the article encourages taking slow, deep breaths to regain composure.
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Recognize success: After the speech, the importance of acknowledging one's achievements and viewing mistakes as opportunities for improvement is highlighted.
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Get support: Joining groups like Toastmasters, known for training in speaking and leadership skills, is recommended. If necessary, seeking professional help, including cognitive behavioral therapy or medication, is suggested.
The article also mentions the normalcy of nervousness in certain situations and introduces the concept of performance anxiety. Social anxiety disorder, including fear of public speaking, is acknowledged, and potential treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and medication are briefly touched upon. Additional resources and references, including Toastmasters International and Mayo Clinic, add depth and credibility to the article.
