Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking

We are born to communicate. God is the Great communicator and we are made in His image. In Genesis chapter 1 He literally spoke the world into existence. John chapter 1 says “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” Since we are made in His image it stands to reason that we too are communicators. Somewhere along the line we lose the desire, misplace the ability, or develop a sense of fear (particularly of public speaking). Therefore, we are often not the communicators we have been created to be. Studies indicate that public speaking ranks among the highest of social phobias in this country. It is my contention that by and large this fear is developed not inherited. Listed here are seven strategies I have found helpful for overcoming the fear of public speaking that plagues so many people. I pray that one or more of these strategies will help you overcome your fear of utilizing that great gift God has given us -- to communicate.

1. Determine your speaking style and build on it.
By styles I mean that some are more comfortable speaking one-on-one. Others do well in group settings or small meetings. Some are OK with speaking if they are teaching while others are uninhibited when telling a story or being dramatic. Each of us have a style and we can use that style when speaking in public. If you are comfortable speaking to a person one-on-one then you will do best when speaking in public if you develop a conversational style. Find your own particular style and build on it. Use your strengths to overcome and build up our weaknesses. To find your style ask your friends and family. Study yourself. Try different styles. Eventually one of them will be obvious to you and others around you.

2. Establish a sense of mission/purpose
Having purpose if vital to human beings. Many who commit suicide or contemplate suicide do so because they feel there is no purpose to life. Without purpose we are like a ship without a rudder. There is nothing to keep us moving in a well-defined direction. When speaking in public we should develop this sense of purpose or mission. What is it that drives you? Bringing people joy and laughter? Sharing truths of life with your fellow man? Purpose equals courage. You will want to fulfill that purpose even in the midst of your fear.

3. Have a proper focus
The three main components of any speaking situation are the speaker, the speech or message and the audience. Getting these in the wrong order of priority can cause a great deal of apprehension for the speaker. The order of priority should be this- the message, the audience, then the speaker. If we focus on ourselves we get nervous because we may fail. We may be dull, speak too fast, forget our points, lose track of the outline or even have our hair out of place. We begin to care greatly how the audience perceives us and if we don’t measure up to that mythical expectation we get nervous and afraid. If we focus on the audience we worry too much about that which we cannot control. As a speaker you have no control over what the audience thinks of you or your speech. Some will like it. Others will hate it. Still others may need more time to think about it. Either way the audiences reaction is by and large beyond your control. You must primarily focus on the message. What is it that you want to give the audience. If it’s important then give it your all and let the chips fall. The importance of the message you have to give should be so all-consuming that you have little room left for fear.

4. Be prepared but don’t over prepare
Any good speaker will prepare diligently for a presentation. Studies have shown that most good public speakers spend an average of 1 hour for each minute of a speech. This may seem like a lot but keep in mind that your audience wants to hear from an “expert”, so give them one. This is not to say that you will know everything about the topic of your speech but you should know what you know well and have evidence to back up your thoughts. I would encourage you to memorize only portions of the speech. The opening and conclusion should be well ingrained in your memory, as should significant stats and quotes. Writing them down on a handy index card that you can pull out if needed can be helpful. When preparing a speech try to prepare with your left brain which is analytical, logical and ordered. When presenting the speech use your right brain which is intuitive and creative. Do your homework when preparing but don’t be afraid to “let ‘er rip!” when giving the speech.

5. Use your nervous energy during delivery
Any speaker experiences some measure of nervousness or apprehension when standing up to speak. The difference between the novice and the experienced speaker is that the experienced speaker puts his nervous energy to work for him. Channel your energy into big, broad, expressive gestures. If possible, move with purpose around the speaking area. Use your voice effectively. Like the successful football coach who helps his team to channel their anger and aggression into toughness and success on the field so you must learn to channel your nervous energy and make it work for you not against you.

6. Speak on that which you know
This may seem obvious but it bears mentioning. Having a basic knowledge about your subject goes a long way toward helping you to overcome fear. To speak about something of which you know nothing is a disservice to the audience and yourself. The audience deserves your best and will most likely get it with a topic that is familiar to you. You can always add to your knowledge by research and study and well you should, but the deeper your knowledge the more easily the information will flow from you.

7. Speak on that for which you are passionate
In my opinion this is perhaps the best strategy for overcoming fear. Passion! If you are passionate about the topic of your speech the passion and excitement in you will overshadow much of your fear. There is a secondary benefit to passion as well. Passion will grip the hearts and minds of your audience like nothing else. The audience will sense the passion through your words, voice, expressions and body language. Some very experienced speakers may be able to fake passion, although most audiences will be able to sense the “fakeness”, but no one will miss the passion if it is genuine. Passion need not be displayed in a “jumping up and down like a cheerleader” fashion. It comes out in any emotion that comes from inside of you. So look inside yourself, find the topics of passion in you, and lose your fear in the passion.