Public Speaking Fear: Does It Diminish With Practice?

Has your fear of public speaking lessened with experience? Yes, absolutely! One can see a significant improvement in pre-speaking feelings with the right kind of practice and strategies.

The Importance of Effective Practice

If you practice public speaking the wrong way, you might not develop into a confident speaker. As a public speaking coach, I've noticed that most public speaking classes often focus too little on addressing the fear participants are feeling. Simply having a nervous person stand in front of an audience for 15 to 30 minutes is like throwing someone who's afraid of swimming into the deep end of a pool without proper instruction. A good coach should employ more creative strategies to get their students ready to speak.

The fear of public speaking is one of the most common phobias in the world. However, this isn't because the act of speaking publicly is inherently frightening. It's more about lack of effective speaking strategies and not being prepared for the challenges that come with public speaking. With the right training and practice, most people can start giving multiple speeches in various settings within a short timeframe.

Does Practice Reduce Public Speaking Fear?

Practice alone does not guarantee perfection. Many people practice repeatedly without receiving constructive feedback, which can lead to repeating mistakes. Instead, reducing your fear of public speaking comes from becoming more comfortable, which ultimately improves your public speaking skills. Incremental improvements come from frequent speaking opportunities and challenges to improve with each session.

FEAR can be an acronym for 'false expectations appearing real.' Often, our fear is not rooted in the act of speaking itself but in past negative experiences that come to mind when we're in a similar situation. These negative feelings can quickly diminish our confidence during public speaking.

Strategies to Overcome Public Speaking Fear

Yes, a fear of public speaking can diminish with practice, but it requires active engagement and continuous improvement. Here are some strategies to help:

Setting Personal Challenges

Each time you speak, set a personal challenge to accomplish during your presentation. Like a high jumper, set the bar at a level you know you can achieve, then incrementally raise it. Challenges can include:

Projecting your voice a little louder and further than usual Expanding your eye contact with your audience, maintaining it for a few seconds Adding more vocal variety to your presentation Taking on speaking opportunities that might initially seem intimidating

Each successful effort builds confidence, just as successfully jumping a higher bar does for a high jumper.

Constructive Feedback and Joining a Toastmasters Club

Receiving constructive feedback is crucial. An experienced speaker should evaluate your presentation and provide suggestions for improvement. It's essential to incorporate these suggestions into your next presentation.

Joining a local Toastmasters club can be immensely beneficial. You'll get ample opportunities to practice public speaking and receive constructive feedback. As a member for 26 years, I've gone from being terrified of speaking in public to regularly enjoying the process.

I achieved this by continually raising the bar, taking on speaking opportunities I would have initially avoided, and actively seeking out such opportunities. While I'm comfortable speaking to groups of up to several hundred, larger groups might still cause some anxiety. However, my public speaking skills help me overcome any fear or anxiety, and I have confidence in delivering a presentation.

If it works for me, it can work for you. Embrace these strategies and watch your fear of public speaking diminish with each practice session.