If you are, you're not alone. Recently, I overheard a group of women discussing this fear, and they all agreed that they avoid speaking in public at all costs. And we're not talking about standing on a stage in front of a large group of people. We're talking about any situation where we are asked to speak up.
We frequently find ourselves in situations where we need to speak up. This may include:
meetings or presentations
interviews or other situations where we need to introduce ourselves and talk about who we are and what we do
events such as leaving functions, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays or funerals
Why do we fear speaking in public?
So why do we fear public speaking so much? Well, the reasons are varied and include:
wanting to avoid feeling embarrassed, judged or laughed at by our peers
thinking we might run out of things to say
thinking we might be caught out by not knowing enough about the topic
hating the idea of being the focus of attention, with everyone staring at us
thinking we'll fail big-time and never be able to show our face again
We're also governed by the stories we tell ourselves and we can be our own worst critics. And the longer we resist speaking in public, the deeper entrenched this fear becomes.
So how do you overcome this fear?
Fortunately, it is possible to overcome this fear and become a confident speaker.
People often turn to the internet for tips and tricks but unfortunately this doesn't really help. One of the most effective ways to overcome this fear is by working with a coach. As a coach I can offer you:
one-on-one coaching, either in person or online (or a combination of the two)
a set of tools and techniques which you can use at any time
opportunities to practice speaking in a safe environment
guidance and encouragement to try new practices and gain more confidence
coaching at a pace suited to your needs and level of confidence and experience.
And it doesn't matter if you've never spoken in public before - we can start at the beginning and work together to help you overcome any feelings of fear, discomfort or awkwardness you may be experiencing.
So, if you want to overcome the fear that's holding you back from speaking up, and would love to develop confidence around public speaking, contact me for a free consultation. This call is an opportunity to discuss what you would like to achieve and how we can work together.
I really looked forward to the sessions with Robin - she is warm, approachable and non-judgemental, so I found it was easy to try out partly formed ideas without feeling awkward.
Tamsyn
Robin brought wonderful, supportive energy through her words and way of being that helped me feel comfortable to open up. She really tapped into and shared a passion for women sharing their learnings and wisdom that inspired me.
Tia
I appreciated the listening skills and acknowledgement demonstrated by Robin. She paid attention to the subject matter I was describing, and she gently guided me through the process, without feeling hurried. Robin supported me to understand the ways that physical and mental preparation and techniques can prepare me for speaking fully and authentically.
Discover your Voice
Introduction to Public Speaking
Overcome your fear of public speaking by working through various practices you can use and develop to help you gain confidence in many different speaking situations.