You are in front of a crowd, about to address them with a speech you have worked so hard to write. Suddenly, you are unable to say anything. Your hands start to shake, you feel dizzy, and you have the urge to throw up. Has this ever happened to you? It looks like a case of public speaking phobia.
In modern society, it is unavoidable to be in a situation wherein you need to convey a message to other people. Whether you are in the classroom, about to read a book report, or if you are at a party, about to give a small speech, public speaking is an essential process for mass communication. However, there are some persons who simply find it difficult to accomplish the task even if they are required to speak to a large group. Such a condition may be termed as glossophobia, or public speaking phobia.
What are the symptoms of this condition? Can this be treated? Glossophobia manifests itself through nervous reactions such as the ones mentioned above. Also, some speech disorders may develop once this person is already onstage or in front of the crowd. Glossophobia is also the scientific term for stage fright. People with this public speaking phobia may stutter, speak inaudibly, or even overuse “ums” and “ahs” during the course of the speech.
The reasons behind such reactions may be traced to some prior experiences of the person. He may have had traumatic experiences beforehand. Sometimes, the thought of rejection, embarrassment, or failure prevents the body from functioning properly in such circumstances, like performing on stage or speaking in front of a number of people.
A way for a person to deal with his public speaking phobia is to practice. Addressing one, two, or three persons at a time may gradually decrease anxiety that is normally felt when speaking to a large crowd. Organizations that specialize in public speaking training, such as Toastmasters International and International Training in Communication, aim to help these persons overcome their phobias and allow them to develop the needed skills to be effective in public speaking.
Dynamic Speaking Tip #1
While there are times in your life when you need to be cold and distant, public speaking is not one of these times. Passion and warmth are fundamental tools in a dynamic speaker’s toolbox. Let your positive feelings for your subject and your audience bleed through into your presentation and your audience will respond to you as if they were under a spell. |
Dynamic Speaking Tip #2
Remember that practice makes improvement, not perfect. Only by rehearsing your speeches and practicing your skills and delivery techniques will you be able to improve. Do not neglect your practice just because it is not glamorous or is boring. It is the fundamentals that allow you to become a dynamic speaker. |
Dynamic Speaking Tip #3
During your quest to become a dynamic speaker you will also get the opportunity to learn more about yourself, you strengths and your weaknesses. By using that new found knowledge you can then target those areas that you need more work on and improve them until they become a strength. Doing this is one of the secrets of a dynamic speaker’s success. They are always learning. |
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