The US National Institute of Mental Health reports that public speaking anxiety affects about 73% of the population.
There is a classic Seinfeld joke about it.
A study found that fear of public speaking is the n°1 fear among Americans. N°2 was death! People fear public speaking more than death! Think about that for a second. That means if you’re going to a funeral, you would rather be in that casket than giving the eulogy.
Jerry Seinfeld has a great joke about the fear of public speaking. Center Stage
Where does this fear come from? There are two drivers to distinguish.
It’s In Our Nature
The first driver is innate. Evolutionary psychologists believe that for our prehistoric ancestors in a tough environment, living in a tribe was a basic survival skill. Rejection from the group led to death.
Speaking to an audience makes us vulnerable to rejection, much like our ancestors feared. At any given time, you could unwittingly say something inappropriate or unseemly that would make you less accepted. In a 1-on-1 conversation, that’s a relationship that can be mended. But in a 1-on-5? At 1-on-1,000, our evolutionary instincts perk up and pressure to be accepted builds.
For some people, understanding the evolutionary biology and internalizing that this is a universal human survival mechanism helps them make sense of it. They stop feeling bad about being nervous and ultimately, this helps them overcome their fear.
So, now we know that some people are worried even when they don’t have good reason to be.
However, on the other side of the spectrum, some people are anxious with good reason.
This is the second possible driver, and it is easy to understand by analogy:
What’s for dinner?
If you are having guests for dinner and you want to be a good host, you might be a little uncomfortable serving them the food you’ve prepared if you know it’s not very tasty. On the other hand, if you made a delicious meal, you’ll probably be excited to share it. It’s the same with your presentation or speech.
The better prepared, the lesser your nerves. Crédit photo : Katarzyna Bialasiewicz
Preparation and Practice
Sometimes, you have to take your cue from your gut and work further to polish your message, your materials, and your delivery. The better prepared, the lesser your nerves.
It’s best not to prepare in isolation for an important presentation or talk. Getting feedback early from a friend, a colleague or a professional could be critical. Using your phone to record yourself is also an easy way to correct what you don’t like and build your confidence once you start liking what you see.
In most cases, a presenter is only nervous for the first few minutes of their talk. Crédit photo : Kasto
The Good News
Once you know you’ve got it and you are as ready as you can be, if you’re still nervous, here’s the good news:
Your nerves won’t last. In most cases, a presenter is only nervous for the first few minutes of their talk. In all likelihood after you’ve delivered your introduction, you’ll be in the flow, relaxed and focused on your delivery.
Guy Benzeno , Center Stage Crédit photo : Marie De Decker
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