What is Glossophobia? How to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking and Gain More Confidence in Presentations
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Communication is a skill that is present in almost every aspect of life, but for those who are afraid to communicate in public, it can be a nightmare. They are afraid to express their views, rarely express their opinions and easily feel embarrassed or lack confidence when speaking in front of a crowd.
Those shortcomings inadvertently hinder the opportunity to express themselves, thereby being less recognized at work than others.
Have you encountered any of the above? If you feel that you are a person with Glossophobia syndrome , let’s overcome this fear of public speaking with Glints , as well as practice to see your presentation skills improve gradually through the following article!
Glossophobia – What is Glossophobia?
Have you ever heard of the term ‘ Glossophobia ‘ – the fear of public speaking? This is a very common syndrome and is easily found in 75% of the world’s population
Some people may feel a little nervous at the thought of public speaking, others even feel panic and fear when speaking in front of many people.
Therefore, they often find ways to avoid public communication situations. In cases where it is impossible to talk or present in front of many people, they will have erratic expressions such as: trembling hands and feet, voice becoming weak, sweating a lot, etc.
Signs of a person with a fear of public speaking
1. Expression of anxiety through appearance
When afraid to communicate and face that fear (communicating with strangers, talking on the phone, speaking in public, …), people with Glossophobia will show noticeable symptoms such as:
- Trembling hands and feet, freezing cold or sweating a lot
- Face flushed, hot
- Breathing is interrupted, heart beats fast
- Feelings of restlessness, restlessness, nausea
- Tight muscles
- Epigastric discomfort
- Dizziness, lightheadedness or even fainting
It is these symptoms that motivate them to avoid social situations to feel more secure and comfortable. But this invisibly causes a lot of trouble in daily life and at work.
2. Can only comfortably chat with loved ones
Being afraid to communicate with the crowd also means that you do not dare to open your heart, but only dare to settle in the “safe circle” that you set yourself. That is why they tend to have close contact only with close objects.
3. Experiencing a “scary” memory in front of a crowd
After a failed presentation or once expressing an opinion but being laughed at by others, they will be stuck by those fears forever. They make them gradually lose confidence in themselves, afraid of facing the crowd. Gradually, they become people who are afraid to communicate in public.
4. Fear of being judged and judged
This can also be seen as the source of the syndrome of shyness in public. People who are easily influenced by the opinions or eyes of others will gradually become more wary of any actions from those around them.
After so many times, it will be difficult for them to open up to strangers and face many difficulties and obstacles in the communication process, especially in front of a large crowd.
5. Avoiding social situations
People with shyness always find ways to avoid social situations such as public speaking, chatting with strangers, dating, eating in crowded places. With school-age children, children may be afraid to go to school, enter the classroom or when the teacher calls on the answer sheet.
6. Self-doubt about one’s appearance and social skills
It can be said that low self-esteem is one of the most obvious manifestations of people who are afraid to communicate in public. That low self-esteem can come from your appearance, your social skills, or even both.
In terms of appearance, they will find it difficult to feel satisfied with their appearance. They are always afraid of others judging their face, dressing, makeup, etc. Gradually, they become insecure and always have to find a way to shield themselves when appearing in crowded places.
More than looks, people who are afraid to speak in front of a crowd lack confidence in their social skills. They feel that they are not good at talking, afraid if the sudden “quiet” atmosphere puts them under pressure, they are also not good at teamwork, always feel bad at giving presentations, etc. or even feel self-conscious about professional skills.
7. Always worry about negative situations
When faced with social situations, people who are afraid to communicate in public always see the most negative consequences for that situation.
For example, when a teacher calls on the answer sheet, people with Glossophobia will easily come to the conclusion that they will not be able to do well. Because that thought keeps running in their heads, they will encounter confusion and stumble when speaking, the content conveyed is not coherent.
Even after presenting, they are afraid to face the thought that the whole class will laugh at them and think they are incompetent and incompetent.
8. Easily influenced by other people’s opinions
People who are shy about communication will not dare to express their own views or opinions. In the long run, they lose their own opinions and are easily influenced by the opinions of others.
How to overcome the fear of public speaking
People with Glossophobia syndrome will encounter strange situations in both life and work. But this does not mean that there is no way to find a solution.
One of the most popular methods today is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. They will have to learn to translate fear messages into more positive self-talk. At the same time, it also offers techniques to help them relax and better manage panic attacks ( 2 ).
Medications may also be prescribed to help you manage your fear. However, if you are shy to communicate in public, you need to avoid overusing the drug to avoid unnecessary side effects.
How can people who are afraid to speak in front of crowds overcome their fear and become more confident when presenting?
1. Learn to understand yourself
Usually, people who shy away from public speaking tend to think that their opinions will not be appreciated. But really, this is purely imagination.
Feel free to express your opinion. If your point of view is not too relevant, you will receive constructive feedback and contributions to improve the way you communicate your ideas more effectively.
One tip is to have a pitcher of water next to you. A small sip of water before presenting your opinion or opinion can make you much more confident and calm.
2. Prepare a suitable presentation topic
The better you understand what you’re about to say, the less likely you are to make mistakes in public. One way to do this lies in preparing the right presentation topic.
If you get “lost”, you can find a way to get back to the topic quickly. You can also take a moment to consider what questions your audience might ask, so you can have your answers ready.
3. Practice before the official presentation day
Are you afraid of feeling someone staring at you while giving a presentation?
This can completely be easily overcome at home through practice methods. After preparing your presentation, ask people close to you (relatives, friends) to be your audience. That way, you will gradually get used to making eye contact and therefore feel less anxious.
During practice, pay attention to how you interact with your audience: communicate with body language ; Ask questions to the audience involved in the presentation. Avoid asking yes-no questions, but ask the type of question that reminds you of the answer:
- Why do you think customers need these features?
- What opportunities do you see participating in next week’s event will create for us?
- What do you think led to the spike in installs last Tuesday?
At the end of each session, ask your audience how you would improve next time. You can take notes to save these experiences and review them before the actual presentation takes place.
4. Don’t forget to practice deep breathing
It seems to be a very simple thing, but breathing is a method that many people inadvertently ignore. We breathe every day, but forget to breathe deeply and evenly in moments of anxiety or insecurity.
Before situations where people are afraid to communicate in front of a crowd, people with Glossophobia should practice breathing evenly. This helps your heart rate gradually stabilize and blood circulation to the brain will also be significantly improved.
5. List and find solutions to your worries
If you want to end your fear, you have no choice but to face it. This can certainly be difficult, as we tend to avoid our fears in order to feel secure.
Try a breakthrough through listing all your worries. Be honest with yourself, and you’ll dig into areas of your own fear that you’ve inadvertently ignored before. Once the list is complete, break it down to find a specific solution to each problem. Troubleshooting every little problem will help you feel much more confident and secure!
6. Get help from friends
As mentioned above, people with social anxiety disorder just want to make friends with their friends. If you are like that, don’t worry too much, because in fact, those friends can completely help you overcome your fear and gradually step out of your comfort zone.
7. Networking outside of your comfort zone
Participate in events or classes outside of school/work, to help you get used to meeting and socializing with strangers.
Gradually, you will realize that meeting and talking with strangers is not as difficult as you thought. Moreover, when you step out of your comfort zone, you have the opportunity to learn interesting things from people’s stories.
8. Just before giving a presentation, gather your thoughts
In fact, you’re just afraid to give a presentation when the waiting moment comes before you even start. This is the moment when the brain tries to tell you, “People are judging me. What if I fail?”
And it is precisely at this point that you can refocus your mind. Remind yourself that you’re here to deliver useful information to your audience. Over time (usually four to six presentations), your brain will begin to understand that, and you will be less anxious.
9. Be proactive in eye contact
One of the big mistakes we often make when communicating with people is forgetting to make eye contact. In fact, everyone in the audience is listening to you. Therefore, the best way to connect with your audience is to make eye contact with them.
This can be difficult at first, as making direct eye contact can sometimes cause feelings of insecurity and anxiety. But you should also remember that the people sitting there are the ones who are patient and really want to listen to you. They understand your anxiety and will try to encourage you through their eyes. Redirecting your thoughts in this way can help you gain confidence and connect more with your audience.
Conclude
In short, being afraid to communicate in front of crowds is a big obstacle in both life and work. And don’t worry too much, because you can completely control yourself so that you can always confidently communicate to everyone. Don’t forget to “carry” the communication tips that Glints shares to quickly overcome your shyness in public!