How to Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking

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You’re in a meeting, and everyone has to introduce themselves. As the introductions move around the table, getting closer and closer to you, you feel your heart start to race, your palms begin to sweat, and your face starts to turn red.

Or perhaps you have to stand up and make a presentation. You’re so nervous that you feel nauseated, your mouth is dry, you’re sweating, and you think you might even have a full-blown panic attack.

I can assure you that you’re not alone if this sounds like you. According to numerous studies, the fear of public speaking or stage fright is the #1 phobia, even ahead of the fear of death (#2 phobia) and the fear of spiders (#3 phobia). In fact, 74% of people suffer from speech anxiety.

When I work with clients, I treat the fear of public speaking (glossophobia) from two angles:

1. Presentation skills — concise, clear messages, and good storytelling ability.

2. The phobia — the irrational fear, which stems from the fear of failure and ridicule.

Presentation Skills

If you know that you have the skills to be a good speaker, you will naturally have more confidence.

• It’s helpful to use a framework when writing your speech. Divide your presentation into 3 parts…