Understanding the fear of public speaking as a natural human condition and learning to manage nerves and anxiety can help us feel more confident while communicating.
Reframing our mindset about stress and realizing that it can have enhancing qualities can enable us to respond more positively and productively to stress when speaking in public.
Deep dives
Understanding the Fear of Public Speaking
Many people have a fear of public speaking, as it activates our deep-rooted concern for our status relative to others. Evolution has wired us to be cautious about our social standing, as lower status could jeopardize our survival. This fear of judgment and assessment when speaking in front of others is intrinsic to our human condition. However, while it is part of who we are, we can learn to manage our nerves and anxiety to feel less nervous and more confident. Additionally, reducing anxiety as a speaker benefits the audience by allowing them to focus on the message rather than the speaker's nervousness.
Reframing Stress and Anxiety
One effective way to address speaking anxiety is through reframing our mindset and understanding the nature of stress. Often, our core assumption is that stress is debilitating, which simplifies the complex nature of stress itself. Stress can have enhancing qualities that elevate performance and behavior, improving our cognitive functioning and physical health. By opening our minds to the idea that stress can be enhancing, we can shift our attention and behaviors to align with this mindset, resulting in a more positive and productive response to stress.
Practical Techniques to Manage Speaking Anxiety
Managing anxiety when speaking involves practical techniques. Acknowledging stress without judgment is the first step, recognizing our physiological and emotional reactions. The second step is welcoming stress, understanding that it is linked to something we care about, such as achieving our goals or making a meaningful impact. Finally, we can utilize our stress to address the core values underlying it, redirecting our focus towards our purpose rather than trying to avoid or eliminate stress. These techniques, along with practices like deep breathing, visualization, and physical movement, can help us feel more comfortable and confident while communicating.
“Eighty five percent of people report being nervous about speaking in public, and I believe the other 15% are lying,” says Matt Abrahams, lecturer in Strategic Communication and podcast host. “What is it about speaking in front of others that makes most of us nervous? Well, those of us who study this ubiquitous fear believe it is part of our human condition.”
In this special episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Matt Abrahams returns to one of the podcast's main goals: helping people become more confident communicators. Listen to interviews with Stanford University professors who research stress as they share insights into why these feelings affect our communication, and how to overcome them.
To find more resources on public speaking anxiety, visit stanford.io/AMP.