You are probably reading this article because either you, or someone who you know has a fear of public speaking!

No, I'm not a mind reader!

The reason I can say this is with a high degree of certainty is because fear of speaking in public is extremely common.That's probably why so many of my clients come to me looking for a solution to this debilitating condition. They know it's holding them back, but they don't know how to fix it.

OK, so how would you like to feel instead? I mean if I could wave a magic wand and instantly replace your fear of public speaking with a more positive emotion, what would you like?

How about excitement?

If you could feel excited about your upcoming presentation or speech wouldn't that be cool?

Well, believe it or not, such an amazing transformation is possible and you already have the power to do it! Would you like to know how? Then read on...

Would it surprise you to know that the label we give to our physical symptoms can have a huge effect on their impact upon us?

Let's start by considering the question "How do you know that you have a fear of public speaking?"

Now I know this may seem like a stupid question, right?  You just know don't you? But bear with me, and let's explore this  a bit more. Often the first thing we notice are certain physical symptoms and sensations such as:

  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased breathing rate
  • Shallow breathing
  • Sweating (forehead and/or hands)
  • Fidgeting / restlessness (hands/feet)
  • Flushing (red face)
  • Speaking quickly (gabbling)
  • Stumbling over words
  • Butterflies in your stomach (feeling sick or wanting to go to the toilet)

Now it's your turn.

Take a moment to consider the physical symptoms you get when you think you are excited. I mean really excited, like when you were a kid waiting for Christmas. What happens to your heart rate? How about your breathing?

It's basically the same or very similar to what you get when you thought you were scared - right?

So,  if the symptoms are the same, how do you know whether you are feeling afraid or excited?

The Science Bit!
Don't worry you're not going crazy! This happens for everybody, and it's due to the release of a chemical cocktail of neurotransmitters into your bloodstream in response to a perceived stressors such as being asked to speak in public.

Here's where the magic happens

To transform your fear of public speaking into excitement all you need to do is change the label you choose to give those feelings.

Instead of labelling them as nerves, call them excitement or anticipation, and see how much stronger and more confident you feel.

Choose to label them as nerves and you trigger a negative thought pattern which usually includes reliving past embarrassing moments or imagining future disasters. Hardly the state you need to help you nail that important presentation.

Choose to label them as excitement and you trigger a much more positive and resourceful train of thought which will massively increase your chances of giving a good or even great speech.

Don't believe me?

That's OK, I didn't believe the awesome power of this technique the first time I heard it either. In fact I thought it was some sort of joke!   But the more I thought about it the more I got curious and then I tried it for myself. Now I teach it to all my clients and they are as surprised as I was at the power of this simple psychological process for overcoming a fear of public speaking.

P.S.The technical term for this powerful technique is Reframing, and is so-called because it means "to look at the same information from an alternative perspective."

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3 Comments

  1. Ravell Wright on 25/01/2021 at 00:02

    My response to this blog is of great appreciation. I believe and agree with everything that was said in this blog. Being able to turn your fears into excitement is very key and one that has worked for me. You become your own thoughts and being able to turn your negative thoughts into positive affirmations will work in your favor. I like the photo of the roller coaster because that is the type of excitement that you want to feel when doing a speech.

  2. Petar on 03/11/2016 at 09:54

    Wow, great concept! This really makes sense – it is a thing line between fear and excitement. Thank you for sharing!

    • Gavin Meikle on 23/11/2016 at 20:16

      Thanks for the kind words Petar. I am pleased that you found this post helpful. Please come back and visit the blog regularly to find lots more useful tips and tricks. Also feel free to post a question in the comments section and I’ll do my best to answer it in a future post. Best Wishes, Gavin, The Presentation Doctor

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