At some point, everyone must speak before an audience. For some, public speaking can be frightening, causing anxiety and dread. As terrifying as public speaking may be for some people, there are effective ways to overcome public speaking anxiety, or so-called stage fright. Public speaking anxiety can be overcome by establishing an audience connection, objectifying our biological response to the situation, and by owning our public speaking experience.
Connecting to the audience, and engaging them in our content and delivery is an important way in which to overcome public speaking anxiety. After all, public speaking, by definition, entails speaking before a gathering of people, an audience. According to Kowan (2013), audience connection can be made by acknowledging the audience’s perception of one’s speaking anxiety as well. Depending on the context and circumstances of the public speaking event, humor is an effective tool in establishing an audience connection from the outset. Humor relieves tension, and can help a speaker overcome the awkwardness that he may feel during his speech delivery. Each audience is a new experience, and a connection must be established each and every time a speaker addresses their audience. Thus, by connecting emotionally to a given audience from the outset helps alleviate anxiety on the part of the speaker, as well as unease in the audience. Techniques such as humor, and acknowledging the universality of human emotions, such as fear, happiness, and anger help further establish a necessary, albeit brief, bonding with the audience,
Objectifying our innate, hard-wired biological response to “fight-or flight” physiologic responses in one’s body is difficult, because the feeling is entirely one’s own during the time of public speaking, and even beforehand. However, by acknowledging the telltale signs of anxiety, such as sweaty palms, a racing heart rate, and the urge to run away, but realizing that these signs are natural, and that that they are merely part of our species’ response to threatening situations is a way to view the experience more objectively, and increase one’s composure (Kowan).
Lastly, owning the experience helps the public speaker both acknowledge the presence of a natural autonomic response. Moreover, such a claim of ownership prevents the biological response from interfering with a speaker’s overall effectiveness. For example, for some public speaking events, it may be useful to even acknowledge one’s state of anxiety. Not only is this a type of ownership, but it helps immediately establish a connection with the audience.
Fortunately, the fear of public speaking can be overcome. According to Kowan (2013), the physiologic response may always be present, but with repeated exposure to an audience, the anxiety becomes less of a hindrance, as self-confidence increases. In addition, when coping skills are practiced, the mind develops the ability to keep the flood of adrenaline at bay. Simply put, mind over matter is an effective tool in the long run. Also, the acceptance of failure, especially at the outset, should not discourage further public speaking attempts. Kowan (2013), for example, did not give up after his first dismal musical performance, when his voice faltered, and he delivered a subpar performance, making his audience uncomfortable. Thus, repeated exposure helps improve self-confidence. Furthermore, storytelling helps establish a human connection to the audience. Storytelling, in the case of Kowan (2013), is not only genuine, but engages the audience’s attention to his personal “ownership” of anxiety. In effect, this strategy helps the audience develop a sense of respect for a public speaker.
Indeed, public speaking can be one of the most daunting experiences for many people. For some public speakers, the experience can be crippling. Fortunately, however, there are techniques that a public speaker can use, strategies that help the speaker face his audience time after time, without succumbing to fear.
Works Cited
Kowan, Joe. “How I Beat Stage Fright.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, Nov. 2013. Web. 30 May, 2016.
