The worst advice for tackling the fear of public speaking

In quick surveys public speaking usually appears in the top three most feared things along with death and spiders.

Most people fear public speaking. (even in countries where the spiders are harmless!).

Even people who do public speaking for a living are not exempt from the fear of standing in front of a room of people. I speak at conferences and events most weeks and experience a feeling of fear before I go on stage. I think this might be compounded by a skewed belief that at the end of a presentation unless I am carried out on raised arms being showered in rose petals, gold coins and applause that I’ve done a less than good job. Over the years I’ve learned that this only happens in Disney movies and not real life, but even if my evaluations are good I’m still always a little disappointed when it doesn’t happen. We call this post presentation remorse and over the years I’ve discovered that it happens to a greater or lesser extent to us all.

But I want to warn you about the worst public speaking advice I’ve ever received.

It was so bad that I’m now wondering if they were trying to sabotage my public speaking career. They said;

‘imagine your audience is naked’

No thank you, I’d rather not.

I wonder if the premise is that if your audience is naked they are vulnerable, and it can feel vulnerable to be on stage. So the audiences’ vulnerability at being naked makes it less daunting for you? Or is it that it might be funny and if you are laughing its harder to feel afraid? That’s all I can think of.

And anyway this thinking is flawed because your audience are not actually naked. (Thank goodness)

Trying to conjure up images of your naked audience is likely only going to make you even more fearful, panicked, nauseous and possibly in need of some form of post presentation therapy.

Even if your audience are super attractive and you’d rather like to see them naked it’s probably not a good idea to let your brain wander down that line of thinking immediately before a presentation. (Save it until after)

Anyway, if you’d like some really helpful coaching about public speaking, including how to manage pre-presentation fear and post presentation remorse and turn them into positives, (that absolutely does not involve nudity) then get in touch at lucy@lucidity.org.uk

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