Spring into Action: March Public Speaking Essentials
Annually over 248 million Americans are stricken with glossophobia. No, it is not a new Covid strain. It is the fear of public speaking. It affects over 75% of our nation and guess what—it’s the #1 fear in the entire world!
Few know or realize there are simple steps you can take to master your fear. This is the topic for our newsletter and blogs this month. As President Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his 1933 inauguration speech, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”
Overcoming your fear of presenting in front of groups is a great place to start. So, we’ll be sharing tips and steps each week to help you journey from fear to faith in yourself.
Fear is a shadow that lurks along the fringes of our lives and appears when we have an opportunity to gain experience, advance, and shine. Like a fruit tree, the best fruit is often the furthest out on the branch. It’s risky to seek it, but worth the adventure. Likewise, public speaking will stretch you but is worth the effort to conquer. Listen to this amazing TED talk and be encouraged.
Practice. Discipline. No pain, no gain. These are all words no one likes to hear, but those who listen and follow the path are those who grow, achieve, and move forward in life. Whether your goal is to become a professional speaker or you simply desire to impress your manager, successfully overcoming your fear of public presenting requires practice, effort, and intentionality.
What you practice—either rightly or wrongly—becomes permanent. If you keep practicing what you have perfected, namely the ability to dodge presentations, you’ll stay stuck. However, if you recognize the value of practicing the right things the right way, your future is limitless. Watch this inspiring quick video on the Power of Practice.
So, conquering fear takes intentionality. But it bears so many rewards. Chief among these rewards is the tremendous boost in your self-esteem and the self-confidence you will gain as a result of stepping up and speaking out. I remember in college standing at the open door of an airplane at 3,000 feet with a parachute strapped to my back. Was I frightened? Sure! But once I took that step of faith and heard the reassuring sound of my parachute deploying, I realized I could conquer any fear.
As terrifying as public speaking may seem, it has no risks that can hurt you (unlike jumping out of a plane!)The famous acronym F.E.A.R. describes fear as False Evidence Appearing Real. This is true. No harm will befall you from public speaking. I once saw a billboard that said, “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” This is true, because there are so many benefits that becoming a confident public speaker can bring into your life. Watch this short video and see what awaits you on the other side of fear.
So, join us this month as we share practical ways to overcome your fears of public speaking. As you build your ability to speak publicly, watch your self-esteem increase.
