To understand why, we need to go way back to prehistoric times, when humans perceived eyes watching us as an existential threat. Those eyes were likely predators. People were literally terrified of being eaten alive. In response to that prehistoric reality, the amygdala, the part of our brain that helps us respond to danger, kicked into full gear. And when our fight-or-flight response gets triggered, we understandably feel intense stress and anxiety.
What does this have to do with public speaking? Turns out, everything. In other words, public-speaking anxiety is in our DNA. We experience public speaking as an attack. We physiologically register an audience as a threatening predator and mount a comparable response. So today when we speak in front of a group and feel the eyes watching us, we feel painfully visible, like a caveman exposed in daylight.
And because our brain is telling us that we are under attack, we do whatever is necessary to protect ourselves. We construct walls between ourselves and the source of danger — in this case, the audience — to repel the attack and blunt any danger. What do these walls look like? We focus on our slides. We look down. We retreat into our notes. In the process, we disregard the people in front of us, wishing them into invisibility. Fortunately, there is a solution: human generosity.
Here are 10 causes of speech anxiety and powerful tips about how to speak with confidence! Want an attention-grabber the next time you give a speech? How about this: speech anxiety ranks higher than death as the fear people mention most often! Need a powerful technique to relax before your next speech or presentation? Got only a few minutes to spare? To be fair: heights, insects, and deep water also rank above death in the survey that's still cited above any other.
Speaking before a group 2. Heights 3. Insects and Bugs 4. Financial Problems 5. Toastmasters International. Stein MB, et al. Approach to treating social anxiety disorder in adults. How to keep fear of public speaking at bay. American Psychological Association. Jackson B, et al. Re-thinking anxiety: Using inoculation messages to reduce and reinterpret public speaking fears.
PLOS One. Sawchuk CN expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 24, See also Anxiety disorders Supraventricular Tachycardia Cognitive behavioral therapy Specific phobias Sweating and body odor Tachycardia. Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic.
Legal Conditions and Terms Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. It works from a marketing standpoint I suppose.
How can you defend against this? Stay home. A combination of imposter syndrome and speaking in front of professional peers, oh, and topped with a cherry of self-doubt. Too old to speak to a bunch of whippersnappers? Lack of experience? And many, many more. The fear of getting so nervous that your heart gives out and you die.
Right there on the floor. Similar to the last one although not quite as unlikely if you consider the current political climate. Going back to the last one, I suppose the thought of being retaliated against physically makes sense. Mind your tongue, pal! The audience members are scratching their heads and now they begin to question the entire content of your speech. Maybe you can only relate to one or two from the list. Respect thine adversary.
After all, whether you have one or all of these fears, the end result is the same. A roadblock between you and a life-changing skill.
The list may seem daunting. In actuality, though, it really only boils down to a couple of things: confidence and worrying too much about what the tribe thinks. Certainly not easy. Absolutely not. Without a doubt, it can be accomplished, and even more so when you know exactly what steps to take. As I said at the onset, I know intimately what it feels like standing in front of an audience, scared as hell.
The pressure, the butterflies, the heart jack hammering, knees buckling, the ability to remember your speech fading…boy do those bring back some harsh memories.
0コメント