JOHN EXZEL L.

PAYE
BA190 PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION

OVERCOMING THE FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

As I am standing here right in front of you, my hands are shaking right now, my legs are
trembling too, my heart is racing, I'm sweating profusely, and I'm probably going to forget some
of the lines in my speech, and stumble over my words. That, my friend, is what you call
glossophobia or what we call the fear of public speaking. Greetings everyone, I am John Exzel
L. Paye, and I have a fear of public speaking. But how did I manage to stand here right in front
of all of you, having this speech, while carrying this fear of mine? Well, after all, I am here to
address a common but formidable fear that many people around the world share: the fear of
public speaking, and I know some of you here have also had that fear. So, I hope that by the
end of this speech, you'll have a better understanding of this fear and form some practical
strategies to overcome it.
First, let's define the concept of the fear of public speaking. According to Osmosis (n.d.), Public
speaking anxiety is an intense fear or nervousness when speaking in front of an audience. It
can manifest as physical symptoms like trembling, sweating, and a racing heart. There are four
common causes of fear of public speaking. The first one is the fear of judgment. People often
worry about being judged or criticized by their audience, and we all do. We care more about our
image of how we present to people. Do I look good in this outfit? Will people like my speech? Is
my voice sound pleasant to them? What if they don't like me? We are not even starting the
speech, and we already lost our focus. And this fear correlates to our second cause, lack of
confidence. Self-doubt can play a significant role in causing public speaking anxiety. We ask
ourselves if we are good enough to stand here. We question our ability and talent and conclude
that we don't have any. We keep comparing ourselves to others and that they are much better
than ours. And they do! Because they have the experience, which relates to our third cause, our
inexperience. The lack of prior public speaking experience can exacerbate the fear, as we are
not used to the many eyes of the public, and judgment from them. Lastly is perfectionism. The
desire for flawless performance can be paralyzing. Once we make a mistake, we lose our focus
and our motivation to continue a good speech and give up halfway.
The fear of public speaking has consequences for our personal and professional lives. Avoiding
public speaking opportunities can hinder personal and professional growth. It can limit career
advancement and networking opportunities. It may lead to missed chances to share valuable
knowledge and insights. The fear of public speaking also has an emotional toll on us. Public
speaking anxiety can lead to feelings of stress, low self-esteem, and frustration. The anticipation
of speaking engagements can be mentally exhausting.
Now that we know what's the concept of public speaking anxiety, and how it affects us. Here are
some of the strategies to overcome public speaking anxiety. The first strategy is preparation. To
be prepared and ready for your performance, research your topic thoroughly. Organize your
thoughts and create a clear outline. Of course, practice, practice, practice, and keep practicing.
And then, rehearse it in front of your friends or family and ask for feedback. The second strategy
is visualization and relaxation techniques. Visualize yourself succeeding and feeling confident.
Practice deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation to manage anxiety. The third is
cognitive strategies. In this strategy, we challenged our negative thoughts and replaced them
with positive affirmations. We remind ourselves that everyone makes mistakes, and that's okay.
The fourth strategy is Desensitization. Gradually expose yourself to public speaking situations,
and maybe start with smaller, more comfortable settings before moving to larger audiences. And
lastly, if your fear is severe and you think that all strategies won't work for you, I advise you to
ask for professional help. Consider working with a speech coach or therapist specializing in
public speaking anxiety. I believe that public speaking, like any skill, improves with practice. The
more you speak in public, the more comfortable and confident you'll become.
I know that overcoming the fear of public speaking is a challenge many of us faced, but it is
entirely achievable. And I am the living proof of that. By understanding the causes, recognizing
the impact, and implementing strategies to manage anxiety, you can unlock the doors to
personal and professional growth. Remember, it's okay to be nervous; it's about how you
managed that fear what matters. With dedication and practice, you can become a confident and
effective public speaker, sharing your ideas with the world.