I’d rather be eaten by sharks

Does this idea come to mind when you are asked to speak in public? Don’t stress, you’re not alone. According to The Washington Post , fear of public speaking is America's biggest phobia – 25% say they fear speaking in front of a crowd. Heights, drowning and tight places all rank lower. And yes, public speaking is feared more than bugs, snakes and other animals, including sharks.

In fact, Boston University points out that about 75% of the world’s population struggles to some degree with the irrational fear of public speaking, also known as glossophobia (from the Greek word “glossa” or tongue). ?Moreover, surveys show that for many, the fear of public speaking is even greater than the fear of death.

The causes and treatment of this phobia go well beyond the scope of the current article. My intention is simply to share with you some tips and tricks that I have learned throughout more than two decades of public speaking. You can be sure that the time you dedicate to reading these “words of wisdom” is well spent as public speaking is listed among the top job skills for any industry.?So, here they are:

#1. Ego stays home. The ideal physical appearance is just a mental construct exacerbated by a wave of digitally modified images we are bombarded with in social media. You look fine! Your voice is fine, your posture is fine, your smile is fine…everything is fine. Also, realize that somebody must think you know your stuff, otherwise you wouldn’t have been asked to address an audience. Yes, there might be a few individuals listening to you that probably know more about the topic, but the vast majority is eager to learn from you. Perfectionism is just a drag.

# 2. Follow a proven recipe. No matter if you are giving a five-minute or one-hour presentation, sticking to this simple framework should help you attract and retain your audience’s attention:

• Start with a personal story. Describe the settings. Bring your characters to life. Grab attention with a plot. Trigger emotions with humor, drama and shocking statistics. Use metaphors to link your story with the broad message of your presentation.
• Then apply “The Power of 3” to present your arguments. Studies show that we find things easier to follow and remember when we can break them down into three key things. I used the method throughout my 20 years as research analyst and continue to do so to date (in fact, I’m doing this right now).
• End on a high note. Your wrap-up must enlist the main takeaways in a straightforward manner. Personally, I also like to start a presentation with the key takeaways to let the audience know “what’s in it” for them. Leave some questions unanswered to foster debates. And if possible, inspire people to take action.

#3. Engage with your audience. Rhetorical and open-ended questions can go a long way to get people to express their opinion. Ask them about their feelings, views and outlook. Help them reflect on why your presentation matters to them. Any idea to turn your audience from passive to active is valid.

I’m passionate about public speaking and hope that these simple suggestions help you in your quest to enjoy future opportunities to address an audience. But I'll settle for knowing that after reading this you would rather be on stage than surrounded by sharks.

Author: Esteban Polidura, 3 July 2021 ?