Public Speech: Why Are We So Afraid?

Delivering a public speech is probably the most common fear known to mankind.

Like or not, it is true; giving a public speech scares us more than darkness, spiders and heights combined!

What this shows is the deep truth that we are social animals. It doesn't matter if you're an introvert or an extrovert; you care greatly about how other people see you.

Feeling nervous is not abnormal; it really is normal to feel nervous if you have to deliver a public speech.

But you should know that your anxiety when speaking can adversely affect your performance.

Why exactly do we fear public speaking? In a physiological sense, our bodies are going to respond to any dangerous stimuli that come along. Whenever you're facing danger or a challenging task, your body goes into to fight or flight.

Your endocrine system secrets adrenaline and other hormones that make your heart beat faster rushed blood to your muscles and extremities.

A public speech triggers this response, even though in reality there's no actual danger to you physically. But your fear of being judged negatively triggers your fear response.

You don't want to look like a fool and make mistakes in front of others. The last thing you want to feel is humiliation.

Maybe you even compare yourself to someone you think is better than you are and that creates bad feelings. Being misunderstood and misinterpreted during a public speech also causes anxiety for a first-time speaker.

It's easy to say, but you should never worry about that when making a public speech. Again, being nervous when speaking in public is a normal response and nothing to get worked up about - that is, don't obsess over being nervous - that just makes it worse.

In fact, that nervousness is just your body's way of keeping you more alert and focused on what you're doing.

Here's the key to delivering your public speech without nervousness:

Take to focus off of yourself!

If you have religious faith, focus on that. And I very strongly admonish you to take the focus off of yourself by focusing on what you can do for your audience.

Make it all about them, and you'll find that your ability to put all of your concentration on wanting to help them will make your nervousness evaporate like water on a hot griddle.

Really, when it comes to making a public speech, take the "Nike" approach, and just do it! - but always remember it's about them, not about you.

By putting your focus on them, you take the focus off of yourself, and that's a major key to conquering stage fright and fear of public speaking forever.