What are some easy ways to overcome a fear of public speaking?

Among American adults, at least one study reported that a fear of public speaking was greater than a fear of death. Public speaking is a skill that can be learned or improved with practice and coaching.

Think of yourself as a teacher, not an orator. You are sharing knowledge you have that your audience does not have, but needs.
What matters is not so much what you say, but what knowledge sticks between your listeners' ears; in other words, your information must be presented memorably, in a way that will make sense and be retrievable.

To overcome a fear of public speaking, realize that the information counts a lot more than the speaker. This can take the pressure off the speaker and put it on the information and presentation.

Techniques that can be helpful are the 3 P's: passion for your subject, excellent preparation and knowledge of both the material and your audience's level of understanding of the topic, and extensive practice of the speech. Passion, preparation and practice really count! Yes, visual aids and handouts are important as many people learn and remember better visually. However, an enthusiastic, prepared and practiced speaker can make a vital difference in how the material is received.

Other techniques include slow, deep breathing, exercise earlier in the day, having a friend in the audience who smiles and nods occasionally, and more.


Public Speaking: You Can Do It! is an economical, tip-filled e-book that can be accessed 24/7 and is filled with strategies for speaking more effectively. It is published by Business Speech Improvement, which also provides seminars and individual coaching on communication skills.

Speech and language disorders in adults

Adults can have a variety of speech and language disorders. Many develop after a sudden or chronic illness, such as a stroke or multiple sclerosis. Others may be the first sign of a serious illness, such as Parkinson's Disease.

There are three major types of speech disorders. Speech refers to pronunciation. One type is dysarthria, which involves a weakness of the muscles. There are several types of dysarthrias. For example, speech might sound "slushy", or the rate could be involuntarily increased at times.

A second disorder is verbal apraxia, which involves poor coordination of the muscles due to poor sequencing of the impulses from the brain. A person with this disorder might have trouble saying longer words, but not shorter ones. Others with severe verbal apraxia might not be able to say anything at all.

There are other types of speech disorders as well, involving unknown causes, poor habits, or more.

In addition, language disorders might involve difficulty with understanding, expressing oneself or both.

Stuttering, voice disorders, feeding disorders and related diagnostic and therapeutic services can all be provided by a certified speech-language pathologist.

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in verbal communication to employees of business and industry.

Public Speaking and the Scary "Um"

As a speech coach, one of the most common questions I hear is
"How can I stop saying "um" when I speak?"

People say "um" for three main reasons. They are a lack of sufficient preparation, a lack of self-confidence, and a poor level of skill in public speaking in general.

To decrease the "um" factor, be very well-prepared. Know your topic thoroughly, learn your speech through key words (not memorization of the entire speech), and use a moment of silence in place of an "um". For more valuable tips on giving a presentation, get Public Speaking:You Can Do It!, an e-book. Individual coaching on public speaking in general or to prepare for a specific presentation is also available through Business Speech Improvement.