How to Get Over Fear of Public Speaking

Research shows a clear link between workplace mental health and organizational success. From battling burnout to building community, there are many ways to create healthier work environments. One simple thing you can do is help people overcome a common stressor: public speaking.

Even the most charismatic speakers get butterflies sometimes. But for some, a fear of public speaking can hold them back in their careers. It might prevent them from speaking up to suggest ideas, asking for a promotion, or even from applying to new jobs. Additionally, it can impact how they interact with coworkers, clients, and potential hires.

BambooHR provides award-winning tools to help businesses bring out the best in their teams. Learn what’s behind the fear of public speaking, why you should help, and how you can create more confident, engaged employees.

What Causes a Fear of Public Speaking?

The fear of public speaking is called glossophobia. It’s a common social anxiety disorder that ranges from slightly uncomfortable to majorly overwhelming. This apprehension is often rooted in a combination of environmental, biological, and psychological factors that are out of the person’s control. For example, it may be caused by:

• Inherited anxiety disorders
• Overactive amygdala (the part of the brain that controls fear)
• History of negative public situations
• Perceptions about the audience’s response
• Worries about your credibility or reputation
• Lack of presentation skills and experience
• Shyness or low self-esteem

For some people with glossophobia, speaking in front of a group is enough to fuel their body's fight-or-flight response. They may experience symptoms like dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, sweating, shaking, and nausea. In some cases, these situations can even trigger a panic attack.

How Important Is It to Address Public Speaking Anxiety?

If you suspect a few of your employees struggle with public speaking (or avoid it altogether), consider offering training sessions as part of your professional development program. Helping your employees overcome this fear is a mutually beneficial investment. Here are a few of the advantages:

• It creates better communicators. Whether they’re talking to colleagues, managers, or customers, they'll be better at communicating their message.
• It builds self-confidence. This training builds skills and experience, helping your employees feel more comfortable in front of large groups or in one-on-one meetings.
• It teaches your employees listening skills. Learning what it means to be a receptive listener can foster more effective meetings and performance reviews.
• It builds leadership skills. Public speaking training can help your employees feel better equipped for coaching or mentorship roles and the next step in their careers.
• It helps your company stay competitive. Your employees learn how to clearly explain your product or service, field questions, and nurture valuable client relationships.
• It encourages self-advocacy: Public speaking empowers your employees to speak up for themselves and others when necessary.
• It's a great team-building activity: Employees with similar fears can bond with each other and learn from colleagues who’ve mastered this task.

Providing training on public speaking can be a great way for employers to upskill their workforce, expand their employees’ long-term career potential, and improve their company culture.

5 Tips for Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking

Just like anything else, good presentation skills take practice. Many people work really hard to kick stage fright to the curb and focus on their audience. Here are some things you and your employees can do to improve your public speaking skills:

1. Address Specific Fears

Some people tie particular fears to public speaking, such as rejection, imperfection, harsh criticism, or embarrassment. If you experience fear of public speaking, ask yourself: What am I really afraid of? After learning what’s behind your apprehension, challenge your perspective.

For instance, sometimes our imaginations overinflate negative outcomes without evidence that those scenarios are actually likely to happen. In this case, visualizing positive alternatives can help you feel less afraid to stand up in front of a group. Remember: They willingly came to see you and want to hear what you have to say!

2. Be Prepared

A successful presentation starts with preparation, so give yourself ample time to do your homework. When you’re organized and well-prepared, it’s easier to prevent imposter syndrome from creeping in. Plus, focusing on what you can control usually eases those pre-presentation jitters. Aside from knowing your topic inside and out, here are some speech-prep tips that might help:

• Get to know your audience
• Preview the venue a few days beforehand
• Practice using the tech you’ll need for your speech
• Decide what to wear ahead of time
• Record yourself speaking and review the tape

Also, learn from experts—the internet is filled with all kinds of useful tidbits! Check out the Toastmasters' public speaking tips for presenting awards, giving sales pitches, introducing speakers, and other situations. Finally, watch your favorite speakers deliver TED Talks, paying close attention to how they deliver insightful information and engage their audiences.

3. Ask for Feedback

Give your friends, family, or colleagues a sneak peek at your presentation and ask them what they think. They can provide pointers on how to perfect your public speaking skills. Speaking in front of a trusted few may not be the same as a packed room full of clients, but it can certainly help you feel more relaxed when the big day arrives.

4. Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice your speech over and over again, including the tone and body language you want to use. If memorizing your speech is too much pressure, prepare a few note cards to jog your memory once you’re at the podium. If Q & A is what stresses you out the most, have your peers ask you questions during practice sessions to help you speak off the cuff with confidence.

5. Talk to a Mental Health Professional

If you find public speaking a truly overwhelming task, it might be worth talking to a mental health professional about it. Some people find that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), prescription medications, relaxation techniques, or a combination of anxiety treatments make public speaking fears more manageable.

Public Speaking Training Challenges

Arranging public speaking workshops can be a great way to upskill your employees. However, those who need them the most might not be as excited to dive in as you would think. Here are some things to consider before setting up your training sessions:

• Employee buy-in: Carefully position this benefit to your employees and avoid singling anyone out. You don’t want to make those few who need it the most feel self-conscious or only valued if they take you up on the offer.
• Mandates: Recognize that not everyone needs or wants to participate. Requiring attendance might feel unnecessary to your more confident speakers or put employees with deeper anxiety issues on edge.
• Cost: If your company can’t cover the costs of public speaking classes right now, look into the free options available.
• Time: Not every employee has the free time to train on their own. Pick dates outside your busy season to host a workshop during business hours, or find a series of microlearning courses that only take a few minutes to complete.
• Format: If you have remote employees, virtual public speaking classes might be easier to attend than in-person workshops.

If it’s not the right time to pencil in a new professional development session, you can always ask a few of your best public speakers to help out. Maybe they can do a little lunch and learn together with your team or one-on-one coaching sessions for anyone who wants the extra support.

You can also save public speaking resources on your network. From structuring speeches to using visuals, your employees can access whatever information they need on their own. You can even include some coping resources for especially nervous presenters.

Key Takeaways

Public speaking isn’t always about delivering a speech that inspires action—it’s also about how you relate to others. Employer-sponsored training can help you build a culture of open, transparent communication where your employees feel comfortable contributing to the conversation, sharing new ideas, and receiving feedback from their managers and peers.