Paulomi Rahman Nisha :
Have you ever heard the term “Glossophobia?” No, it’s not any dangerous disease. It is the medical term referring to the fear of public speaking. It is also considered to be a social anxiety disorder (SAD). Anxiety disorders are more than just a little bit of tension. It’s a pretty common phobia that is estimated to affect nearly 75 per cent of the people. Speaking before a crowd can cause discomfort and anxiety in people who are affected. Some people instill severe phobias which are out of scale with what you’re going through or thinking about.
According to Glossophobia.com, the worst fear a person can have is public speaking, even higher than the fear of death. Unmanageable sweating, trembling, and a rapid heartbeat are all possible effects. One may also feel compelled to bolt from the room or flee the stressful circumstance. However, those who are often anxious in other social situations (also called social phobia), can suffer from a severe performance anxiety disorder. In this kind of case, cognitive-behavioral therapy, medicines, or a combination of the two may be used to treat the issue.
More or less most of the students suffer from performance anxiety when they are attending any sort of viva-voce or presentation, especially the freshers of the universities. Some students of mine had an immense fear of presentation during their first few years of campus life. But with proper guidance, training and practice they could overcome their nervousness and became outstanding speakers at the end of their academic year. A poor presenter can create a decent product or idea that looks less appealing, whereas a professional speaker can lend charm to a substandard offering.
Public speaking is a requirement in almost all professional professions. Presenting findings, pitching projects, training employees, and conducting meetings are all responsibilities that are frequently required. Here are some guidelines for effective public speaking.
Anxiety about public speaking is a frequent phobia. It might range from mild jitters to crippling fear and panic. Many persons who suffer from this fear simply avoid speaking altogether or suffer through it with clenched fists and a trembling voice. You may overcome your fear with planning and perseverance.
Nonverbal communication, often known as gestures or body language, is used by speakers to elicit a lot of emotion and interest. The body language of a speaker can be used to emphasize and clarify their remarks while also reinforcing their sincerity and excitement.
Know what you’re talking about. The more you know about what you’re speaking about – and the more passionate you are about it – the less unlikely you are to make a mistake and get off track. If you do become confused, it’ll be easy to retrieve your way back fast. Take time to think about what queries the audience might ask and prepare responses.
Organize yourself. Plan out all the material you want to present ahead of time, including any props, audio, or visual aids. You’ll be less nervous if you’re well-organized. To stay on track, draw an outline on a small card. Keep one day for content and presentation drafting, another day to rehearse the presentation and make material adjustments to improve the flow. There will be still one more day to prepare for the final presentation. Before your presentation, if at all possible, go to the location where you’ll be presenting and look over the available equipment.
Rehearse and rehearse some more. Rehearse your entire presentation a few times. Do it for a few people you know well and solicit feedback. It’s also a good idea to develop with a few people you’re not familiar with. Create a video of your speech so you can review it and see where you can enhance it.
Don’t be afraid of silence. It may appear as if you’ve been silent for a lifetime if you lose track of what you’re talking or become frightened and your mind goes blank. It’s maybe just a few seconds in actuality. Just because it’s longer, your audience is unlikely to mind a brief pause to absorb what you’ve said. Simply take a few deep, steady breaths.
Acknowledge your accomplishments. Offer yourself a pat on the back after your presentation. It may not have been flawless, but you’re probably harsher on yourself than your listener is. Check to see if any of your particular issues came true. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time. Consider any mistakes you’ve made as a way to develop from them.
Seek help. Join a support group for those who have trouble speaking in front of groups. people in speaking and leadership abilities, are one useful resource.
Practice deep breathing. Take two or more deep, deliberate breaths before approaching the podium and throughout your speech.
People are more interested in fresh knowledge than in how it is delivered. They might not detect your anxiety. If members of the audience perceive that you are apprehensive, they may cheer for you and want your presentation to flourish.
And finally, imagine your success. Assume your presentation will go smoothly. Positive thinking can help reduce your nervousness and reduce your negativity regarding your social performance.
(The writer is Lecturer, ELT & Applied Linguistics, Notre Dame University Bangladesh).
