Terrified of public speaking

Dear Can't Speak in Class and Fearful Public Speaker,

Although many people have a fear of speaking in front of others, it sounds like the anxiety you both experience is a real barrier to a successful speech or presentation. But, you both have already gone through the hardest step: admitting that this nervousness isn't working out and that it’s worthy of putting forth effort to overcome it. The good news is that, because so many people share your anxiety, there are lots of tips and resources out there that might help you handle public speaking and presentation panic.

To start, it may be helpful to hone in on specific public speaking situations where you're more or less nervous. Can you identify any times when you've spoken in front of a group without feeling as nervous? What about speaking with smaller groups or with just one other person? What's that like for you? Does it matter whether you know the audience on a personal level? Do you feel less nervous when you're not being evaluated in a certain way (e.g., being graded)? Answering these questions could help you both better understand your fear of public speaking, as well as remind you both of your communication strengths.

As for coping strategies, one way to become more comfortable with public speaking and presenting is to do some prep work and rehearse beforehand. This can include thinking about what you’ll say, how you’ll present it, and what setting you’ll be in — all of which you’ll likely know ahead of time. During subsequent prep sessions, consider the following to help ease your anxiety around public speaking:

• Think about your audience: What do they already know about the topic or information you’re speaking about? How are they likely to respond to it? Take what you know about your audience and tailor your presentation or speech to maximize audience engagement.
• Prepare a script: Rather than relying on impromptu speaking, you can always prepare a script for yourself, or even write up notes in a script-like style that will be easiest for you to read and say. Make sure the text is large enough for you to read and try to write in the same way you would speak (like dialogue in a movie script), instead of how you might compose an essay or paper which is typically more formal. You may also want to pencil in some “stage directions” for yourself , such as when you’ll refer to a visual element at a certain point, when to pause, or when to insert a break to ask questions of your audience.
• Practice and record yourself: This will help you to get familiar with what you want to say and to be aware how you sound. You can use this recording to review your speech and potentially identify points of improvement, such as correcting mispronunciations, slowing or speeding up your speech pace, adding in pauses, raising or lowering your voice, or cutting out “filler” sounds (e.g., “um”, “uh”, “er”, “aaah”).
• Get familiar with your surroundings: Ahead of the presentation date, figure out the logistics. Where will the presentation take place? Where will you stand? Do you know how to operate any necessary audio-visual components? If you have a poster or other materials, where will they be on display while you’re speaking? On the day of, take note of where any wires are on the floor or any obstacles present while you move around during the presentation. Keeping the unknowns to a minimum might help alleviate some of the speaking jitters you’re experiencing.
• Ready yourself for presenting: Practice deep breathing before you speak and make sure to take deep breaths during your presentation as well. Find a standing posture that is comfortable, but not too rigid or slumped over. Avoid big meals prior to go time (some even advise steering clear of dairy products to reduce the need for clearing your throat).

Furthermore, to compliment these strategies, you can also look into what resources are available to address your anxiety. One resource dedicated to helping people strengthen communication skills and confidence is Toastmasters International, a membership organization that offers public speaking tips and information on best practices for presentations. Similarly, you could check to see if there are any public speaking courses being offered at your school or within your community. If you're struggling to speak during class, you can always try reaching out to your instructor. They may be able to offer some additional guidance or alternative options for meeting the objectives of the presentation assignment. Lastly, you might consider chatting with a mental health professional that can help you develop strategies to cope with your anxiety. There’s no need to choose just one of these resources for assistance; more than one may be of use to improve in this area.

It may bring you both some relief to know that oftentimes, a successful speech or presentation takes more than just knowing the material you’re going to cover. With a winning combination of preparation strategies and resources though, you’ll likely become a more confident and skilled speaker in the future. In any case, you both deserve a standing ovation for investigating ways to grow as a speaker — bravo!