What Causes Fear of Public Speaking?
Public speaking is one of the most common fears but the causes can be different for each individual. Determining the reason for the fear can help you work to overcome it.
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Perfectionism
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High standards create more pressure and heighten fear of failure. Ironically, perfectionism can lead to avoiding preparation since perfectionism makes the task seem too daunting.
Lack of Preparation
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Being uncomfortable with the material, equipment, room or other factors in the presentation can lead to fear. Prepare well so that you know what to do and expect.
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Negative Thinking
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Negative thoughts or obsessing over a past negative experience feed the anxiety. In fact, the fear of just being fearful sometimes causes greater anxiety than actually making the presentation.
Insecurity
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A personality that is insecure, either in general or in a specific situation, will feel inadequate to the task of public speaking. The person may doubt herr ability or her knowledge of the material.
Fear of Embarassment
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People are afraid that everyone in the audience will see their shaking hands or wavering voice, and judge them negatively.
An Intimidating Audience
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Making a presentation to authority figures such as a boss, government entity or someone of greatly higher status in business or the community can be intimidating.
Conquer the Fear
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Toastmasters International offers a supportive environment for practice in public speaking with tips to conquer fear. Affiliate groups are located in cities around the world. To learn more, see toastmasters.org
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