The Fear of Public Speaking: Why It Exists and How to Overcome It

"The delegate from Australia has the floor." At the sound of your title, your heart beats furiously. Sweat drips slowly down your face. Your legs shake at what feels like a Richter-worthy magnitude. Your hands grow clammy, and, panicking, you wipe them on the fabric of the brand new suit you swore you wouldn’t get dirty. We all know this feeling, the paralyzing terror of public speaking. Even the most experienced delegates can’t ignore the acrobatics going on in our stomachs before we address a large committee. In their 2018 Survey of American Fears, Chapman University ranked the fear of public speaking as the 60th most common phobia, placing it higher than fear of abduction, bugs, and yes, Satan. It’s a fear nearly as ubiquitous as it is awful. But why exactly is the fear of public speaking so prevalent? Research suggests that there may be an evolutionary explanation. Long ago, before the Agricultural Revolution and the birth of civilization as we know it, human social structures were based on communal collaboration and acceptance. Early humans lived in groups of around thirty to fifty people who depended on each other for everything from food production to child rearing. Collaboration among all members of a group was necessary for the entire community’s survival. Failure to cooperate with others could result in ostracism, or expulsion from the group—a virtual death sentence in the prehistoric world. Though our social structures have changed dramatically, we are still evolutionarily equipped to fear whatever threatens our status in a group. That’s why we become so nervous around public speaking: our bodies are programmed to think that if we mess up, we may die. Essentially, this is a very legitimate fear, one deeply rooted in human biology. One shouldn’t feel ashamed for struggling in front of crowds. Luckily, however, this fear is more than possible to conquer, and I’ve compiled a list of tips to help you overcome it. Tip Number One: Maintain an awareness of the situation at hand. Whenever you find yourself frozen in front of a crowd, challenge your fear. Ask yourself, “What’s really the worst thing that could happen if I fail?” Chances are, the answer doesn’t involve impending doom or eternal humiliation. The people around you likely have much more to worry about than your stuttering during a moderated caucus. Tip Number Two: Fake it ‘til you make it. Remember that public speaking is about presentation as much as it is about skill. Minor things such as posture, gesturing, and even clothing can have a large impact on your confidence levels and speaking abilities. Even if you don’t feel internally confident, there are many ways for you to maintain the external illusion of confidence. Stand up straight. Hold your head up high. Slap on your best pair of “bad b**ch” stilettos. Trust me, it’ll work miracles. Tip Number Three: Practice, practice, practice. Sure, this sounds cliché, but it’s absolutely vital. Start by speaking alone, in front of a mirror. Make notes of your tone, posture, and vocal control. Once you feel more comfortable, practice in front of your close friends and family, allowing them to make small critiques on your performance. Eventually, you’ll gain the skill and confidence necessary to speak before larger crowds. Tip Number Four: remember your fear is natural. As I mentioned earlier, the fear of public speaking is biological in nature, and for many people, it will never go away completely. Thus, the key to mastering public speaking doesn’t come from eliminating your fear completely. Instead, learn to work alongside your fear. Learn to use your confidence to mask your anxiety. Learn to say, despite your pounding heart, your sweaty temples, and your shaky knees, “I am unstoppable.” Croston , Glenn. “The Thing We Fear More Than Death.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 29 Nov. 2012, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-real-story-risk/201211/the-thing-we-fear- more-death. Rapoport , Robyn, and Kyle Berta. SSRS, 2019, pp. 1–78, American Fears Survey.