Glossophobia is commonly known as the fear of public speaking, and it’s remarkably common. In fact, some experts would say as much as 75% of the population struggles with some form of glossophobia, with 10% of the population suffering from a debilitating case. Here’s the thing about fear – it’s not the enemy; it’s a tool! Fear is completely natural and a healthy response to uncertain situations. It can also be a powerful motivator as well as remind us of the importance of taking the perceived threat seriously. When it comes to a fear of public speaking, these natural responses create a perfect atmosphere to create an impactful presentation.
Fear is a natural reaction, and if you learn embrace it and leverage it, you’ll be able to give any presentation with confidence and enthusiasm. Once you understand how to harness your fear of public speaking as a presentation tool, you’ll want to get on stage every day.
Here are 3 tips to accepting and leveraging this secret weapon.
Embrace the adrenaline.
When we feel fearful, our bodies naturally release a shot of adrenaline into our nervous system. This is our body’s way of preparing to “fight” whatever we are fearful of. It’s this adrenaline that makes us feel shaky and jittery (who knew fear and a cup of coffee had so much in common?). Next time you feel this way before speaking in front of a crowd, embrace it! This adrenaline is telling the brain that it’s time to do something challenging. Take that extra energy and focus it on delivering the best presentation you can. Just remember that when you step on stage, you don’t want to be visibly shaking from adrenaline, so if necessary, find a way to burn off the excess jitters prior to presenting to get your body calmed down a bit. A great way to burn off excess energy is to go for a brisk walk. This is a chance to expel some of the adrenaline so your brain can slow down and focus on what you are about to present.
Allow the fear to motivate you.
Personally, I am part of the 75% of the population that experiences a bit of nervous energy and fear prior to speaking in front of a crowd. The amount of fear I experience is directly correlated to how prepared I feel for the presentation. If I feel confident, I am likely to prepare less; when I feel fearful, I will spend hours preparing to speak. Allowing the fear to motivate your preparation is a powerful way to leverage what can be perceived as a negative emotion. Allow yourself to feel the fear and then allow that feeling to drive you to invest your time and energy into creating, practicing, and delivering the best presentation possible. The more comfortable you get, the less you’ll be afraid once you begin your delivery, so you’ll be well prepared for your presentation and able to feel at ease, too.
Practice, practice, practice.
This tip is based specifically around overcoming the debilitating fear that some people feel when it comes to public speaking. Practice is essential to any presentation. At Ethos3, we recommend that you practice your presentation in its entirety at least 4 times prior to stepping in front of the audience. However, if you experience a debilitating fear of public speaking, 4 times might not be enough. Practice until you feel completely comfortable with what you are presenting. It should feel as if this presentation is second nature to you long before you walk on stage. By investing the extra time in practicing, you will give yourself the comfort of knowing you have put in the time and there is little that can go wrong.
Glossophobia keeps many of today’s population in the audience rather than on stage, which inhibits the flow of ideas and limits our exposure to innovative creations. By implementing these 3 tips, you are empowering yourself not to run from the fear, but rather to embrace it and let that fear motivate you. After all, your ideas are too important to keep quiet.
Interested in learning more about how the team at Ethos3 can help you elevate your presentation? Contact us today!
