Frank Colosimo

Mrs. Cramer
Comp I Pd. 3
17 November 2017
Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking
What do people fear most? According to a study of the population of the United States

public speaking is a more common fear than the fear of death (Cosnett). An overwhelming

majority of the population of the United States population is affected by a fear of public speaking

in some way. Some people simply get anxious or stressed, while others can be completely

paralyzed with fear. Although public speaking is a debilitating fear there are many ways to

overcome it.

One of the most crucial points to remember before beginning public speaking is to know

the audience (Cosnett). This should be the first step taken when preparing to make a

presentation, only second to knowing the topic which will be covered. For instance, if someone

were to present to a class of high school students they would want to know if it was the advanced

placement students or the “C” average students. This information will dictate how readily the

presentation will be received, and thus how the presentation should be organized. Similarly, an

orator would want to know the terms under which their audience has come to listen to his speech.

If it is mandatory, then some of the audience may not pay attention at all; this is not something

that can be changed, so he would just have to present the best he can to the members of the

audience that want to be there. Knowing the audience can make or break a presentation.

The next most important thing to remember while engaging in public speaking is to be

confident. One of the easiest ways for someone to gain confidence is to know his material. If

someone is able to answer any question asked or explain any part of his presentation, to a
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moderate depth, it will build the audience’s confidence in him. If his audience is confident in him

then it helps them to be confident in himself. A confident speaker is always better than a speaker

who is nervous, the audience will pick up on the speaker’s insecurity. That said, being confident

should not be confused with blind confidence. Having confidence in oneself is beneficial,

however, it needs foundation (Gard). The aspect of confidence will always improve a person's

public speaking ability.

Confidence is great, but when someone is going to speak publicly it is not impromptu.

The art of public speaking is one that is rehearsed and practiced (Cosnett). The simple act of

going over what will be said, out loud, will often help the flow of a presentation. Reading to a

mirror, family member, or pet will make a presentation feel more natural and be more appealing.

It is important to remember that practice does not make perfect. Though, the more practice that

takes place the better a presentation will be because of it.

It’s great for someone to know what they are going to present, but they also need to know

how they are going to present it. Knowing how to go about presenting an article ties back into

knowing to whom someone is presenting. For instance, a scientist who is presenting a new

finding to his colleagues would be perfectly just in using the jargon of his field. However, if he

were to present his findings to the public, the jargon would have to be explained that way it will

be readily understood. Similarly, the tone that one uses while speaking is equally important as

the language he uses.

It is much easier to approach a crowd when they have a positive attitude towards what the

orator has to say. Thus, it is critical to not use a demeaning tone when speaking to someone that

could be considered an equal. Playing off the audiences’ emotions is what turns a poor speaker to
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a memorable one. Example, if the subject of the presentation is a bit awkward, perhaps use

humor to break the ice. Alternatively, if the crowd doesn’t seem to be responding positively to

humor, be serious. The most important thing to remember is the that if the audience is

responding positively then they like how the information is being presented. If they are not

responding positively, change it up.

Changing the way one presents at random times during the program refocuses the

attention of the audience. Turning a one-sided lecture into a conversation is a great way to, not

only become more comfortable presenting, but also to gauge the audience’s enthusiasm. Making

sure the audience is entertained by and focused on the presentation is the whole reason to be

presenting in the first place. To do this the audience has to want to hear what the orator will

have to say next.

Unfortunately, sometimes audiences just do not agree with a presentation. This is

completely out of the control of whoever is presenting. However, each person can control what

happens within their own body when they present. For instance, taking a deep breathe to calm

the butterflies that form in a nervous person’s stomach. Or, perhaps, vocal exercises to make sure

that the oration is as crisp and clear as possible. If the area that the presentation is located

requires it, learning how to project one’s voice would be very advantageous. Not using nothing

words is another way to control the situation. It is better to remain silent while gathering

thoughts and planning what should be said next than it is to mutter “uh” and “um.” Controlling

as many of the factors that attribute to a presentation will help eliminate the need to be afraid.

All these methods will make someone a better public speaker; however, he will still have

to overcome fear. In America, fear of public speaking is more common than the fear of death
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(Cosnett). The fear of public speaking is debilitating, though, over time people can develop a

way to tolerate the mix of emotions felt when presenting. The best way to get over a fear of

public speaking is experience (Gard). Similar to how practicing the reciting of one individual

presentation helps its natural flow, the experience that comes with repeated public speaking

causes the event to have a more natural flow. Nobody will ever be totally at home speaking in

public. Even the most experienced public speakers get nervous. They have just developed their

coping mechanisms so that they can continue despite what they feel inside.
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Work Cited
Cosnett, Gary, et al. “A survival guide to public speaking.” Training & Development Journal, Sept. 1990,
p. 15+ Educators Reference Complete, go.galegroup.com
Accessed 25 Oct. 2017.

Gard, Carolyn J. “Do You Need to Psych Yourself Up to Give a Speech?” Current Health 2, a Weekly
Reader publication, Sept. 1999, p. 18. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com
Accessed 25 Oct. 2017