The fear of speaking in public can stop many people from communicating important information to others.

Among many human experiences, it may be fair to say that few things strike terror in the heart like the thought or act of public speaking.

The college made it mandatory to take a speech class and Dana, being very reserved and shy didn’t look forward to this class. In the course catalog, an alternative to meet the same requirement, Voice and Diction was available. That sounded less daunting. Time passed and class started. Most of the class sessions addressed enunciation and students could read from books instead of memorizing a speech. However, a day came when her teacher asked her to step up on a small auditorium stage and speak a few words. 

Dana suddenly felt intimidated, small, and scared on that big stage. She opened her mouth and her voice warbled in high tones. She teared up, embarrassed, and stopped speaking. Her teacher tried to tell her and the class, this reaction was normal. It was a side effect of ‘nerves’. Dana could return to her seat and another student rose to the stage. Dana’s heart was still racing and her mouth was dry as she rubbed her sweaty palms on her jeans. The rest of the class was better than that day. She avoided public speaking as much as she could until she became a teacher.

 

What is public speaking?

 

Traditionally, oration is the act of standing and speaking before a live audience. While some of those factors may have changed in our recent history, like giving presentations via Zoom or video speeches, the principle is still the same. A speaker presents a topic and talks about it before a blinking and breathing set of people who listen. The history of the act of public speaking goes back approximately 2,000 years. [ general historical reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_speaking#History]

 

 

There is even a term for this type of fear and you may already know it, glossophobia.

We can prepare ahead of time or be thrust into the spotlight and regardless of how we find ourselves in that position before others we experience fear in a number of physical ways, whether it’s upset digestion, dry mouth, or sweaty palms to name but a few.

 

Dana could stand in front of her students and teach with no fear, but at the end of a term, when her director asked her to prepare a five-minute speech to the students on accomplishments and goals, her stomach tightened and her mouth dried up. When she gave the speech, she felt the sweat pour down her body and hoped no one noticed. She wondered why the situation caused her so much trepidation. She could speak to a class of twenty but to speak to a larger group made her feel weak in the knees, but she did it and did it well. No one knew how she felt.

Why do we experience fear of speaking in public?

What exactly triggers our fear of speaking in public?

• Embarrassment?
• Looking foolish?
• Being judged?
• Thinking that a giant monster might materialize out of thin air and consume us?
• All of the above?
• We might be afraid of rejection.

We might be carrying around a deeper trauma that affects us. We may have had a previous speaking engagement where it went poorly and the memory haunts us.

For any given individual the answer can be yes, our feelings can be mighty loud at those moments.

Dana talked to her co-workers about speech jitters and found out they felt the same way about public speaking. They shared stories about their fear and laughed. Jee-young admitted that his fear started when he was in grade school when he was volunteered to be in a school play he didn’t want to do. Mutsuko grew up in another country and so found it very hard but liked the challenge. Dana finally remembered being embarrassed in middle school while being on stage. This realization encouraged her to work on her fear of speaking in public.

Who experiences the phobia of public speaking?

 

Some people are definitely gifted with the ability to speak in public, but many of them still get nervous when it is time to step in front of a large crowd to speak. Some might refer to this as stage fright. Seasoned actors, as well as singers and other performers, may still experience gut-wrenching fear before they step on stage but then muscle memory kicks in and they forget that moment for the next.

Three-quarters of any population may be affected by this fear. (Rosemary Black, Glossophobia (Fear of Public Speaking): Are You Glossophobic? https://www.psycom.net/glossophobia-fear-of-public-speaking )

Dana and Yan got tickets to a famous series of talks. They listened to a few speeches on the fear of public speaking and they learned a lot and really appreciated the speaker. Later that night they were able to converse with the first speaker and find out that this wonderfully articulate human being still got very nervous before speaking but the second speaker was barely nervous and the last speaker had routines to help with nerves but they all felt confident about their ability and were always challenging themselves and practicing. 

What to do about the fear of public speaking?

One method highly recommended by many experts to face and conquer the fear of speaking in public is by joining Toastmasters International.

 

Toastmasters International provides a safe environment to learn, practice, and improve your public speaking skills. Mentors are provided so that members can grow and be supported. There is no criticism. Instead, there is gentle feedback, of what worked or what could be improved on. We have a system online, a guided course called Pathways, that leads members through the levels and each step to a more confident you.

 

On a recommendation from Yan, Dana wanted to join Toastmasters and found a few clubs near her. She was able to visit each one and see how the meetings were structured; the opening of the meeting, followed by the explanation of the different parts of the meeting, the table topics section where members and guests speak for one minute to practice speaking on one’s feet and then listening to prepared speeches and evaluations. She heard and saw a lot of positivity, so she joined a Toastmasters International club.

Going through Pathways, the online course she got access to with her Toastmasters International membership, she was guided through her first speech, an icebreaker designed to introduce herself in a fun and interesting way. Her mentor encouraged her to practice the speech in front of a mirror, when driving to work, with friends, or with family. She used an outline on paper instead of note cards in her hand. She practiced vocal variety, volume, and speed. By the time her club meeting arrived, she felt nervous but also excited. She rehearsed her material, she was confident and felt comfortable knowing her new club was a safe space to give her presentation, and that helped her put the ‘what-ifs’ out of her mind. 

Before she knew it, her first speech was done and the evaluation was good. She smiled. She knew what she would do in her next speech. She already had her hook to get the attention of her audience. Dana knew it was OK to be a little nervous but now, and since she planned everything else, she was confident she will be OK.

Toastmasters International provides guidance in a safe space. It can be your second family.  It is a safe space to learn and practice skills that transfer to other aspects of life via public speaking.

 

Toastmasters International is the place to face the fear of speaking in public, be encouraged, and grow into the confident version of yourself. 

Through Toastmasters, speaking before others does not have to be feared or avoided any longer. We are here to help and grow together. We are here for you. We are here to listen and guide and help you to be brave, bold, and confident in your journey.