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Thought of the Week: February 2, 2003

What are the physical, mental, and
emotional signals of the Fear Factor?

Physical

How many of us have experienced a restless night’s sleep the evening before an important job interview or presentation? Have you been asked to give the toast at an important event?  Has

The symptoms of physical distress for every speaker are different. Have you experienced or witnessed these physical reactions?

Mental

The Fear Factor has a way of interrupting the smooth flow of thoughts from your brain to your mouth. The result is likened to a mental meltdown whereby tension builds because you perceive you are failing in your ability to connect. Fear blockades your typically clear mental processes until you experience symptoms such as:

Emotional

The emotional signal is the glue that seals your fate as a nervous speaker. The problem is that as you physically and mentally react to your fear, the emotions begin to wrap the entire public speaking experience into a neat, tight, package. The result is a vicious circle of action-reaction-action. Feelings of being overwhelmed, loss of control, and embarrassment add fuel to the fear symptoms listed above. In the end, you've psyched yourself out of what could have been a positive speaking experience.

The memory of the nightmare scrapes at your self-confidence. Every time you are asked to speak, you think of the time you failed. In the end, you've talked yourself out of taking the opportunity to public speak.

Keep in mind that all three emotional signals can be experienced the moment you step up to the podium. When you learn the craft of public speaking, you are trained to remain calm and take control of the emotional elements that accompany presentation. In addition, you incorporate the skills that make a public speaker effective thus giving you the self-confidence to succeed.

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The Fear of Speaking