Before answering this question, I think I should explain what the term “public speaking” actually means. The traditional scenario that springs to mind is someone standing on a stage who is speaking to an audience that has come to hear what the speaker has to say. The speaker may be using a microphone, but this does not have to be the case. There is no verbal interaction between the audience and the speaker, the audience is only there to listen.
Not speaking in public is almost impossible in this day and age. We all do it, even though we may not always realise it. Speaking in public includes speaking at reunions, at the front of a classroom to other students, over video calls, and even via videos posted on Youtube or Instagram.
In other words, whenever we are presenting our ideas to someone, we are speaking in public. Public speaking involves creating a message and broadcasting it to an audience, whilst aiming to be clear, concise and honest.
In my opinion, the following factors determine how good a speech or talk is:
- The first impression: speaker must attract audience’s attention; gaze and body language are important
- The development of points/topics: use of connectors; being clear; the text must flow; tone and pitch of voice must be appropriate; speaker must connect with audience
- A good conclusion: closing with impact, coming full circle
Only someone who has mastered the art of storytelling can write a good speech. Speeches, just like stories, always have a beginning and an end, a hello and a goodbye. However, presenting a speech is much more than just writing it. In order to present a speech well, the speaker can only do one thing – practice, practice, practice.
Practice is so important because an audience will notice the difference if a speaker is sure of what they are saying, feels comfortable and has done enough preparation.
In my experience, the biggest mistake is being unorganised and not leaving enough time to practice the speech before the big day. When we are asked to speak to an audience, we are often not granted enough time to prepare, meaning there is no time to think about things like our body language and how we could connect with the audience. This leaves us feeling less self‑confident and nervous about making a mistake and looking like a fool.
During the more than ten years I have spent coaching individuals, from university students to managers at multinational companies, I have noticed that everyone fears the same thing – no one wants to make a mistake and end up looking like a fool. However, all it takes to make a good speech is time and organisation. Fear will only take hold if we do not give ourselves enough time to prepare.
The problem often lies in the organisations we work with being unorganised and not considering how important it is to allow the speaker the time they need. They do not understand under how much stress this puts their speakers.
As a rough guide, for every 1 minute of speech, 30 minutes of preparation are needed, meaning that a short speech lasting 15 minutes would entail at least 8 hours of preparation.
The actual time needed to prepare will depend on how much the speaker knows about the topic already. I feel that organisations would really help the people they work with if they began to take into account the time it takes to prepare a good speech – to practice it as well as prepare the logistics of it, including creating a PowerPoint presentation for example. Learning how to be more organised is easy and if organisations took this step, it would reduce the stress levels of many speakers. The fear of speaking in public is called glossophobia and is experienced by many people across the world.
Suffering from anxiety when faced with speaking in front of an audience is something that 75% of the population must deal with. This percentage represents more people than are scared of spiders.
The fear manifests itself in our physical reaction to speaking in public. The symptoms are easy to identify – shaking, going red, not being able to breathe, hyperventilating, an increased heartrate and a dry mouth. The moments just before the speech are, of course, the worst.
Our brains associate public speaking with being in danger, which is why succumbing to the fear can result in extreme physical reactions. However, all the speaker is really scared of is looking like a fool. The worst thing for the stressed individual would be that someone in the audience laughed at them.
However, an audience does not usually laugh at a speaker. The fear is purely psychological.
It is our beliefs, mental maps and past experiences that make us scared of potentially being judged by others. Overcoming the fear of speaking in public at home is possible, but it takes time. The process just requires one thing and that is practice. Take these five simple steps when you have a 3-15 minute talk planned:
- Brainstorm: gather all the information you will need
- Structure: use the rule of thirds to clearly organise your speech into an introduction, body and conclusion
- Practice: video yourself or record your voice, speak to yourself in the mirror or present your speech to your partner or a friend
- Body language: this is the key and may be the best way to connect with your audience. Be aware of your body and of where you are looking. What is your body language communicating to your audience? What are you doing with your hands?
- Connect with your audience: decide how you are going to connect with your audience
- Decide on your style: find your voice
Asking people you trust to help you practice your speech is recommended. Maybe a colleague, family member, teacher or coach could help. You will no longer feel scared of speaking in public once you have taken the time you need to prepare.
Neuro-linguistic programming, or NLP, is a method used to change behaviour and attitude, helping us by reprogramming our brains to believe that we are capable of doing anything and everything.
NLP is an attitude to life, a methodology, a practical and powerful model of what makes humanity great. It is useful in communication, by helping people become effective communicators.
The methodology can be applied in many different areas, including education, coaching, social work, personal development, business consulting, negotiations and sales. Basically, NLP is a tool that anyone can use to master the skill of communication.
When I think about fear, I also think of Alex Honnold, a climber who free soloed – climbed, with no ropes– a 900 meter wall in 2017. This is considered the greatest achievement in the history of free soloing.
In Free Solo, the documentary about this event, Alex talks about fear and how to stop feeling it. Whilst climbing the wall, making just one mistake would have been fatal.
Instead of trying to overcome fear, Alex simply tries not to be consumed by it. Fear paralyses the body and in a life or death situation he cannot let this happen.
He managed to expand his comfort zone by training intensively during the two years prior to the publication of the Spanish version of this article. He no longer feels fear because he has trained so much that his body knows what to do, knows what to expect, meaning he no longer panics as quickly. Anyone can do the same to also stop succumbing to fear.
Our comfort zone is defined by the things we feel most comfortable doing. We will never learn much if we always stay within it. Venturing outside of it takes us to the learning zone and venturing further takes us to the panic zone. Through the things we experience in life, our brains create a frame that it uses to determine what is safe for us and what is not. We feel safer in our comfort zone because we know what to expect.
NLP can be used to redefine the limits of our comfort zone. When the fear of speaking in public manifests itself, our physical reaction is the same as if we were climbing a 900 meter high wall without ropes, where one mistake really would mean game over. When speaking in front of an audience, making a mistake does not, of course, lead to death.
NLP can help us to overcome phobias, change our beliefs and expand our comfort zone. Results are guaranteed. Even someone who has had many negative experiences in connection with public speaking can suddenly become an expert. The speaker learns to feel comfortable throughout the whole process and making a speech becomes easy. The following process is used in NLP to overcome the fear of public speaking:
- Analysis of the individual and the extent of their fear of public speaking
- Exploration of resources and any methods the individual may not be comfortable with
- Identification of goals
- Creation of a plan of action
- Follow up
- Feedback
Various NLP techniques may be used during the process, including visualisation, exploration of beliefs and work with linguistic metamodeling, or anchoring.
Neuro-linguistic programming, or NLP, is a method used to change behaviour and attitude, helping us by reprogramming our brains to believe that we are capable of doing anything and everything.
NLP is an attitude to life, a methodology, a practical and powerful model of what makes humanity great. It is useful in communication, by helping people become effective communicators.
The methodology can be applied in many different areas, including education, coaching, social work, personal development, business consulting, negotiations and sales. Basically, NLP is a tool that anyone can use to master the skill of communication.
When I think about fear, I also think of Alex Honnold, a climber who free soloed – climbed, with no ropes– a 900 meter wall in 2017. This is considered the greatest achievement in the history of free soloing.
In Free Solo, the documentary about this event, Alex talks about fear and how to stop feeling it. Whilst climbing the wall, making just one mistake would have been fatal.
Instead of trying to overcome fear, Alex simply tries not to be consumed by it. Fear paralyses the body and in a life or death situation he cannot let this happen.
He managed to expand his comfort zone by training intensively during the two years prior to the publication of the Spanish version of this article. He no longer feels fear because he has trained so much that his body knows what to do, knows what to expect, meaning he no longer panics as quickly. Anyone can do the same to also stop succumbing to fear.
Our comfort zone is defined by the things we feel most comfortable doing. We will never learn much if we always stay within it. Venturing outside of it takes us to the learning zone and venturing further takes us to the panic zone. Through the things we experience in life, our brains create a frame that it uses to determine what is safe for us and what is not. We feel safer in our comfort zone because we know what to expect.
NLP can be used to redefine the limits of our comfort zone. When the fear of speaking in public manifests itself, our physical reaction is the same as if we were climbing a 900 meter high wall without ropes, where one mistake really would mean game over. When speaking in front of an audience, making a mistake does not, of course, lead to death.
NLP can help us to overcome phobias, change our beliefs and expand our comfort zone. Results are guaranteed. Even someone who has had many negative experiences in connection with public speaking can suddenly become an expert. The speaker learns to feel comfortable throughout the whole process and making a speech becomes easy. The following process is used in NLP to overcome the fear of public speaking:
- Analysis of the individual and the extent of their fear of public speaking
- Exploration of resources and any methods the individual may not be comfortable with
- Identification of goals
- Creation of a plan of action
- Follow up
- Feedback
Various NLP techniques may be used during the process, including visualisation, exploration of beliefs and work with linguistic metamodeling, or anchoring.
