Why do people get nervous when speaking in public?
Fear of public speaking—often called stage fright or public-speaking anxiety—afflicts more than 40 million Americans. In “The Book of Lists,” speaking in public was listed as the No. 1 fear among those surveyed.SymptomsWhen adrenaline pumps into the bloodstream, respiration, heart rate and perspiration all increase. The body begins to react more to the symptoms than to the speech.CausesAmong the common causes of nervousness are lack of preparation, having no previous positive experiences, feeling at the center of attention, expectations of being judged.TimingAnxiety does not affect everyone in the same way. “A Speaker’s Guidebook” points out that anxiety can occur at any point during preparation, just before speaking or during the speech.MisconceptionsNovice speakers often view an audience as the enemy, failing to consider that audience members want them to succeed.SolutionsTo help alleviate speaking anxiety, prepare and know your material, visualize success as you practice, use hu
