Sweaty hands, stuttering, butterflies in your stomach--each of these is a sign of speech anxiety. If you are afraid to speak in public, you are not alone. Many people experience speech anxiety. The solution is to identify the causes and then minimize or eliminate them. Relaxation methods can also help to alleviate the symptoms.
Fear of Looking Foolish
Many people fear that they will fail in some way during their speech. For example, a common cause of speech anxiety is the fear of suddenly drawing a blank while speaking. Other fears include that you might mispronounce a word, cite a statistic incorrectly or that an audience member will ask a difficult question that will put you on the spot. The cure for these fears is to prepare adequately. If you know your subject inside and out, you will have greater confidence about your ability to handle any problems or questions that arise.
Social Anxiety
Many people fear that their audience will not respect or like them. This fear is heightened if a boss or other superiors are in the audience. To conquer this cause of anxiety, realize that your audience does not hate you. Instead of fearing them, be proactive. Before the speech, identify the techniques that will reach them best. For example, if your speech is data-heavy, present slides that illustrate the more technical aspects. During the speech, make eye contact with audience members to let them know you appreciate their attention. After the speech, ask for constructive criticism. But understand that you can't please everyone, so take negative feedback with a grain of salt.
Lack of Practice
Practice prepares you for a speech, and that preparation increases your confidence. If you give a speech 10 times in front of a mirror or, better, in front of a test audience of friends and family members, you will be secure in the knowledge that you can give your speech effectively and consistently. On the other hand, if you attempt to wing your speech, you may lose track halfway into it or have other difficulties. Practicing will help you identify problem areas or slow spots in your speech, allowing you to hone the speech to make it as perfect as possible.
