The Fear of Public Speaking

Welcome back friends. It’s nice having to share our thoughts and ideas. And please feel free to let me know what you think about some of these topics I’ve been discussing. 

For the past few weeks, I’ve been talking about different types of fear. The response has been great. And thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.

Today, I want to discuss one of the most dreadful form of fear – the fear of public speaking. It is also known as glossophobia or stage fright. 

A recent research showed that more than 60% of people in the world fear public speaking. 

Perhaps, we could try to find out why. But most times, it is because people don't like the embarrassment associated with speaking in the public. 

And when you are in the public and you have to speak, you'll mind every word you speak and how you speak it. 

Public speaking involves engaging a large number of people which may be difficult for a lot of people to deal with. It also involves trying to be as eloquent and communicative as possible. 

For most people, the expectation for whoever is going to do a public speaking is high, and that is why a lot of people dread it, because they don’t know how the situation will turn out, and they won’t want to embarrass themselves or put themselves in a totally uncomfortable situation.

The fear of public speaking starts from the feeling of anxiety about what to say and how to say it, to the feeling of little discomfort in the stomach and nervousness. 

But apart from this, one may know what to say and how to say it, but the boldness of saying it might be lacking.

I remember sometimes I had to speak in the public and I was dazed. But the moment I summoned courage to do it anyway, I saw myself doing it, even beyond my expectation. 

And people told me my speech was impressive. I wondered how that was. But all I knew was that doing it makes it better, even if you are filled with so much fear. 

Something important to note about this fear is that it is a natural feeling. Everyone who is good at public speaking today was before had to battle with the fear. 

People who are now perfect have gone through several moments of anxieties and fear of what to say and how to say it. But when they summoned courage and did it anyway, they had result. And that is the idea of it – doing it makes it better!

You can start with the people you are comfortable with. Practice public speaking with them, and let them assess you and allow you to make the right adjustments. 

As you keep doing it, you will realize you will become more comfortable with people and what you have to say, and the fear of public speaking will fizzle out.

Have a nice week!

To read the previous article, please click on this link: https://abiolagold.blogspot.com/2022/09/the-fear-of-rejection.html?sc=1663495964621#c7806170001984223485