GLOSSOPHOBIA

Personal Development

GLOSOPHOBIA / Fear of public speaking

Well mind 

                                                     Figure 1 Image by therapy compartmental/iStock

“Have you ever wondered why some people are so confident and comfortable while giving a speech or small presentation in front of an audience, and others just the opposite ?” Now, be assured that there are solutions to be more comfortable, and overcome your fear of public speaking_This article will guide you.

Written by Charlene Mindje F.

 At least 75% of people around the world struggle to stand confidently in front of an audience and deliver a brief speech, even for a simple greeting, whether at work or in class. It's highly likely that you're the one right now!

• What is Glossophia?

Glossophobia is a term used to describe the fear of speaking in public, whether in front of a large or small group of people, which affects more than two-thirds of the population and has grown far too frequently. And this happens not only in front of strangers, but also, more strangely, in front of friends with whom we spend our days chilling.

"I felt a peculiar chill and terror in my body when the lecturer gave me the floor during the public speaking presentation. It's like being trapped in a cage that hinders us from freely expressing ourselves and sharing our ideas. So I didn't comprehend what was going on, and I fell into tears," said a Mass Media and Communication department student at Mount Kenya University of Rwanda.

• What makes me fear talking in public? 

It's distressing that after a long time of preparation, the day before your presentation, you still fail to put what you've learned into practice in order to deliver your presentation properly. Many individuals have been wondering what the root causes of this problem could be. Eventually, the reasons for this case are numerous. They could be caused by a variety of variables, including heredity, societal, environmental, and even personal factors. Several causes have been identified by scientists as possible roots of this fear, including:

• Genetics

Our parents' genes act and work in us from the moment we are born. These are, nonetheless, one of the factors that shape our emotions and affect us the majority of the time. The fear of expressing ourselves in public can be traced back to our genetic makeup, which is also hereditary. According to specialists, this issue stemming from our biological formation can have long-term consequences for a person. If one or both of your parents have had this problem, you have a one in two chance of being impacted.

•     Lack of self-confidence

Everything stems from our minds. What do you feed your mind with? Do you have confidence in your ability to produce exceptional work in one or more areas? Or you always have this great evil genius behind you, repeating in your head, "Ouch!" Anyway, you're the one who can't do any better." We've all experienced low self-esteem at some point in our lives. We've all been in that circumstance at some point in our life. It's worth noting that we can cultivate this act of faith within ourselves by feeding our minds with positive images and information about ourselves. Above all, keep in mind that self-esteem is the result of a lengthy period of work and effort.

•     Fear of other’s opinion

We have always based our actions on what those around us would think. This leads to fear of failure. When we are focused on the opinion of others vis-à-vis our facts, we always tend to be disappointed in the end. Everything is alternate – Even when you think you are doing better, there will always be voices to contradict and weaken us. Most of the time, we create our own illusions, that – “people will think that I didn’t do my presentation well or it wasn’t as well done as X or Y’s”. This negative air destroys us mentally and prevents us from taking action - which undoubtedly results in failure.

•    Lack of preparation

According to a study, 75 percent of the rate of efficiently and accurately delivering speech comes from preparation, 10% from our minds and the other 15% comes straight from our capacity to handle our worries and anxiousness. We spend the day after D-Day memorizing our texts, either in front of our friends or in front of our mirror, to ensure that everything is in working order and that we have mastered our subject. 85 percent of those who do not prepare their presentation must confront this fear before proceeding.

•        Our environment/surroundings

When we are preparing to give a speech or make a presentation in front of an audience with whom we are unfamiliar, it is natural to feel nervous and fearful. Surprisingly, one feels intimidated in front of an audience of authoritarian characters, or at least most of the time. For instance, during his trial, in front of the jury, or even in front of his teachers. This situation can make the presenter feel guilty for not being able to give his or her speech effectively enough to persuade such a high-ranking official. The sensation of inferiority towards our audience can deplete our stamina.

• How to stop being afraid of public speaking?

Glossophobia is treated differently depending on the source of the fear. "It's quite normal and acceptable to be scared while giving a public speech," says the author. However, allowing your emotions to take control is not a good idea since it can lead to psychological issues in addition to physical ones—in other words, it can exacerbate the condition. You must always be aware of how to handle your emotions in light of this truth. The following are some suggestions to help you overcome your fear of public speaking:

1. Understand how to handle stage fear.

In her article, Sheryl Ankrom, a clinical professional counselor specialist in anxiety disorders presented different techniques of "deep breathing exercises to overcome nervousness". Therefore, turn your nervousness into your energy that leads you to effective results. And above all don't apologize for being nervous, because sometimes people only notice it when you say it.

The following link, contains 8 Deep Breathing exercises for anxiety, by Sheryl Ankrom: https://www.verywellmind.com/abdominal-breathing-2584115

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2. Know your room

Arrive at least 1 hour before your scheduled presentation. Take a few moments to go around the room where your speech will be delivered. Be aware of every conceivable turn; this will enable you to be mentally and physically aware of your surroundings and to feel them up close. This will give you power over your surroundings.

3. Audience Analysis

You probably asked yourself who your target audience was(Audience profile) during your survey, so you could figure out what to say. Now that they're in front of you, you can approach them and learn more about them. Because you've already built this fusion with your audience from the beginning, you'll feel calmer and less scared. And you won't have to worry about running out of time to deliver your speech because you'll have completed it well ahead of time. Before you give your presentation, establish a fusional dialogue with your audience to enable you to feel at ease in their presence.

4. Know your material

Preparation is one of the most crucial aspects in determining the success of any job. That's when you start to collect different thoughts on your topic, audience, and work's content. We should now ask ourselves the following questions: -Who is my target audience? What background do they have on the subject? What is their personality/attitude? What are their possible misunderstandings concerning this subject? Are they familiar with the terms I'll be using?

After all, as a speaker who wants to deliver an effective presentation, you should care about your audience in order to acquire their respect and attention. After that, practice your work to gain a thorough understanding of your subject. This is a crucial step in developing your confidence.

5. Focus on your ideas

During your speech, you can become distracted. This could be due to the various reactions displayed by your audience, or it could be due to the materials all around you in the room - a phone call, a pin falling on the floor, people coming in and out of the room, noises outside or within, etc. This circumstance should not be so overwhelming that it becomes distracting, as it may damage your ideas and, as a result, your presentation. However, pay attention to your presentation and your shared ideas.

6. See your audience as if they want you to succeed

We are always in charge of how we perceive ourselves, not how others perceive us. When you feed your mind positive thoughts, it reflects in your actions. Have a positive image of yourself in your mind as you deliver your speech. Consider them allies rather than adversaries. This will help you maintain your composure and confidence in front of them and yourself.

7. Visualize yourself as a successful speaker

We all have a part of ourselves that motivates and urges us to act in certain ways. It could be a famous person, a teacher, or even one of our closest friends. This reference character does admirably well in his field, and you aspire to be just like him or even better. You may even begin to replicate similar gestures and his manner of expression in order to resemble him. Nobody wants to come last in a competition, regardless of the conditions or events. However, imagine yourself in the shoes of your supermodel or a clever and competent character when speaking in front of an audience. This will motivate you to talk with more confidence and impact.

8. Gain experience

If speaking in front of an audience makes you feel terrible and causes you to sleep late or spend a long time preparing your speech, take advantage of the opportunity to create new characters for as long as it takes. It will seem excessive at first, but it is all a question of habit and repetition. The more you practice at first, the easier it will get over time.

• What are the symptoms of glossophobia?

If you ever exhibit these symptoms or effects when speaking in public, you have glossophobia:

• Intense anxiety before or during public speaking

• Dodging events that focus attention on the individuals present

• Physical distress, nausea, or feelings of panic in various circumstances.

• Sudden tremor or diarrhea

• Stuttering from fear

• Acceleration of heart rate

If you want to learn more about how to overcome your fear of public speaking, the following video will be helpful :

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***Question of the day:***

How did you manage to overcome your fear of public speaking?Share with us your experience _