3 Psychology-Backed Strategies to Decrease Your Public Speaking Fears

Nervous about public speaking? I’m going to tell you right now that you are anything but alone!

In fact, experts at PSYCOM.net report that glossophobia -- a fear of public speaking -- is “believed to affect up to 75% of the population.”

You read that correctly -- 3 out of every 4 people are afraid to simply stand in front of other people and speak.

Even professional public speakers (like yours truly, the #KillerPitchMaster) face bouts of nervousness from time to time. It’s a normal human experience, and is nothing to be ashamed of.

Whether you want to deliver an amazing elevator pitch, media pitch, investor pitch, or basic speech at work, there are plenty of techniques for eliminating your speaking fears. Not only does working on reducing these fears make you feel better, but decreasing your anxiety levels before and during a pitch automatically delivers a boost to your speaking skills.

Thanks to the many studies that have been conducted on the subject, the field of psychology is an amazing place to turn when looking for proven techniques to add to your speaking routine.

Explore 3 of the top psychology-backed strategies for decreasing your public speaking fears:

Create a Unique-to-You Pre-Pitch Routine

Before going on to present your elevator pitch, media pitch, or investor pitch, practice a unique-to-you pre-pitch routine. The combination of routine and calming activities have been shown to soothe anxiety. 

What does a pre-pitch routine look like? For your routine to work, it has to include things that make you feel relaxed. What works for one person may not work at all for another. You get to decide the length of time you spend in your routine, as well as what you do with that time. 

Some ideas to get you started include going on a walk, listening to your favorite music, practicing your pitch a specific number of times, or writing. Make your routine your own!

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness -- also known as being present in the moment -- is a technique that can significantly improve your speaking skills. Psychologists have found that this technique can help calm fear and anxiety (and boost happiness) in a wide range of situations. Meditation exercises are one way to help bring you fully into the present, and to be accepting and non-judgemental of your emotions.

Utilize the Power of Exposure Therapy:

For decades, a core therapy for breaking even the most stubborn of fears has been exposure therapy. Just like it sounds, this method exposes individuals to what they fear on a repeated basis. Ultimately, the intense reaction diminishes (or in some cases, goes away completely). 

This technique is particularly powerful when working on your fear of public speaking. The more you speak in front of crowds, the less intense your anxiety will become. Rather than avoiding opportunities to speak, take any and all opportunities to work on your public speaking skills.

In addition to these strategies, there are many more that you can use to improve the quality of your pitches, boost your confidence, and to master your story. Check out the services that we offer to find the one that will be most helpful for your life.