Does the idea of giving a presentation bring you out in a cold sweat? If so, you’re not alone – one in four of us say that we feel incredibly anxious about having to speak to an audience. However, like most phobias, “glossophobia”, the fear of public speaking, can be overcome using hypnotherapy techniques.
What causes a fear of public speaking?
Around 25% of us report a fear of public speaking, and it can also be a symptom of social anxiety, generalised anxiety and / or low self-esteem. The underlying fear that causes glossophobia is the fear of being judged – for our speaking skills, voice, views, looks, competence or speech content.
The irony is that if you’ve reached the point of giving a presentation, whether you’re launching a new product or being your mate’s best man, someone along the line has decided that you’re the right person for the role. Unfortunately, this means nothing when nerves, doubt or imposter syndrome creep in.
The intellectual side of the brain knows that making a speech isn’t a life-or-death situation; however, to the primitive part of the brain, having to speak in public feels like a physical threat. This causes a build-up of stress hormones which in turn leads to glossophobia symptoms such as a dry mouth, a flushed face and shaking hands.
Of course, these all-too-visible symptoms make us feel even more judged and we develop a “fear of fear”. This is known as “anxiety sensitivity” and its common among those who struggle with glossophobia.
Why is it important to build confidence in presentations?
I have met so many incredibly talented and experienced professionals who dread giving presentations or speeches, and their fear of public speaking is holding them back. Glossophobia can prevent people from applying for a job (“what if I have to give a presentation at the interview?”) or going for a promotion (“will my new role involve presenting?”).
Fear of public speaking isn’t limited to our professional lives. We hypnotherapists work with everyone from nervous fathers-of-the-bride to people who are passionate about local issues but can’t bring themselves to speak out.
The good news is that you can overcome glossophobia. Don’t assume that public speaking is a talent that you have or haven’t got – it’s actually a skill rather than an innate gift. By using hypnotherapy techniques to build your confidence, along with practical coping strategies and plenty of practise, you will soon become a skilled speaker. Even better, the skills you’ll learn as a public speaker help you carry yourself with confidence in a range of situations. Who knows – you might even start to enjoy presenting to an audience (am dram, here we come!).
How hypnotherapy can help you overcome glossophobia
At Great Minds Clinic, we specialise in hypnotherapy for confidence, and this includes help with public speaking difficulties. I tailor each programme for the individual client, because we all experience anxiety differently; however, broadly, we use a blend of solution focused hypnotherapy, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and practical techniques and coping strategies.
Solution-focused hypnotherapy helps us picture a goal and devise steps to reach it across a number of sessions. In this case, the goal could be the individual smiling across at a room of clapping colleagues, presentation delivered successfully. Then, during the sessions, we’d work through our series of steps towards that end goal.
NLP encourages us to model positive behaviours and to draw on these for a successful outcome. Some people use role modelling; however, NLP also teaches us to reach inside ourselves for our own strongest behaviours. For example, you’re a nervous speaker but a very clear communicator on paper: how can you use your skills with the written word to help you as a presenter? It could be that you write an excellent set of prompts or a script for your speech, helping you to deliver engaging content while increasing your confidence.
A lot of public speaking success comes down to well-planned stage management, so props like clear notes can really help. What clothes make you feel “the part”? Does your neck flush when you get anxious? Wear a polo neck or scarf. If you know you fiddle with your hair when you’re nervous, tie it back.
Alongside therapeutic techniques, we’ll look at all these little tips and tricks to help you get started. If it helps, glossophobes are in good company, because famously extravert Richard Branson used to hate public speaking. His coping strategy? Pretend the audience was a small group of friends, and speak as if he were talking to them.
Hypnotherapy for presentation anxiety
Overcoming glossophobia can increase your confidence in all sorts of ways and even give your career a boost. If you’re struggling with self-confidence when it comes to public speaking, please get in touch with me at Great Minds Clinic. We can work together to overcome your presentation anxiety.
