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Everybody has gotten nervous when giving a speech before, but it’s important to not let those feelings take control over your speech.

Today at a Glance:

• Understanding speaker anxiety

• Physical strategies to overcome it

• Mental strategies to overcome it

Overcoming Speaking Anxiety

Public speaking is one of the most valuable skills, and yet, it can be a source of anxiety and fear for so many of us. Speakers anxiety can be present regardless of the size of group you are talking to.

So much emphasis in society is placed on learning written communications, and visual communication - yet people are just expected to develop their verbal communication skills on their own.

In this article, we’ll be address the common causes behind speaking anxiety, and ways to help overcome it.

Understanding speakers anxiety

Speaking anxiety, also know as glossophobia, is a common fear characterized by feeling nervous, uncomfortable, and being apprehensive when speaking in public. It can be triggered by a wide variety of factors, including fear of judgement, unfamiliarity with the audience, or lack of preparation.

In order to overcome your fears, first you must understand them.

Common Triggers:

Several triggers can induce speaking anxiety. Identifying these triggers is crucial for addressing and managing anxiety effectively. Some of the common triggers include:

• Fear of Judgement

• Unfamiliarity with the Audience

• Lack of Preparation

• Past Negative Experiences

Recognize the impact:

Speakers anxiety can have significant impact on your ability to deliver your speech. Being aware of how it can impact you means you’ll be able to more consciously work on avoiding them.

• Impede Communication

• Affect Confidence

• Limit Opportunities

Physical and Mental Strategies

Physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a racing heart, shaky hands, and sweaty palms, can be alleviated through relaxation techniques. Deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness meditation has personally helped me get over these problems.

Maintaining positive self-talk is also important to help combat anxiety. Challenging the negative thoughts can shift your mindset and reduce anxiety.

Positive Visualization

Visualization has been one of the biggest tools to help me get over my own speaker anxiety. Imagine yourself successfully delivering your speech, receiving positive feedback, and feeling accomplished. Create the mental image you want to strive towards, and this will help enhance your self-belief.

Practice and Preparation

Familiarity breeds confidence. Rehears your speech as many times as you possibly can. My preferred method is practicing in front of people, as you are able to gain external feedback from them. Some other great methods also include practicing in front of a mirror, or simply recording yourself. The more you know your material, the less you have to stress about not being in control.

Embrace Imperfection

We’re all human, nobody is perfect. Mistakes are a huge part of the learning process. The important thing to remember is, nobody else knows your speech other than you. So if you make a mistake, the only way the audience will know, is if you make it obvious. Even the most seasoned of speakers make mistakes from time to time.

Conclusion

Speaking anxiety is extremely common, but it doesn’t have to hold you back. Take the time to learn about what is the cause of your speaker anxiety, you are able to focus your attention towards improving the necessary skills.

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- Justin