In today’s world, public speaking is a daunting task for many people. Glossophobia; the fear of public speaking, gives many of us cold sweats whenever we speak in front of a large group of people, even more so if we speak on stage in front of a crowd. According to numerous studies, approximately 70% of people suffer from speech anxiety. However, public speaking is not the real fear. It is feared that there is always a chance of public humiliation through rejection or judgement of character.

It is already a phenomenal capability for many, yet there are many errors and misinformation that surround public speaking. These myths add another load of stress to what already existed. Many people believe these myths and assume that if they’re not natural-born speakers or professional speakers, they can’t speak with success. Due to these untruths, many people try to avoid public speaking where possible, and many give up before they’ve even started.

The Importance of Public Speaking

Public speaking is significant because you are bound to meet a situation where public speaking skills are needed. It is a useful tool to have throughout your life and builds your confidence. The following can be said after public speaking:

For some people, public speaking is feared more than death. It is ultimately someone’s fear of loss of identity or being perceived in a way that hurts their character during their speech. Let’s set the record straight, ANYONE can be a fantastic, top-class speaker with training, and practice. It doesn’t necessarily require years of work, or thousands of dollars of investment to be great at public speaking. We hear so many different things about how to become positive and confident in public speaking, yet there are simple things you can start doing now to improve.

Don’t let these myths stop you from stepping up and delivering that speech. Here are the top 6 common myths that surround public speaking…

Myth 1: Good speakers have a natural talent for speaking

Public speaking is a talent that anyone can possess with little hard work and practice. It is a myth that some people are natural speakers and born with a gift. No one is natural when it comes to public speaking. Public speaking can be a stress-free skill to control if you rehearse the right way. Most new speakers work hard to hide their nervousness instead of doing things to decrease nervousness.

Myth 2: It takes years to become a great speaker

Public Speaking is like any other skill in that when you practice and feel competent in what you are presenting, you gain more confidence about yourself, and you improve with more experience. So, the key to becoming a great speaker is consistent progress.

It does not require years to become a great speaker; all you need is practice. The truth is that the time it will take you to become a great speaker depends completely on how many times and how frequently you speak, and how many of these instances you noticeably recognise building your competence, and therefore your confidence.

Myth 3: Introverts aren’t good speakers

It is a common myth that introverts are not good public speakers. We describe introverts as shy and quiet people, who often, don’t like being in the spotlight. They enjoy being alone in their own presence and need this time to recharge after being in the company of others. Susan Cain wrote a bestselling book named “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking”. It is generally assumed that they don’t make the title of being a good public speaker, yet this is far from the truth. Introverts can make excellent public speakers. Susan Cain mentions the likes of Bill Gates, Emma Watson, Abraham Lincoln and J.K. Rowling. These are only a handful of introverts that have given excellent speeches. Introverts are often better listeners, which makes them far more likely to be attuned to an audience’s needs. And because they only speak when they have something important to share, an audience will usually listen more attentively.

Myth 4: The best speeches are completely memorised

It is said that you should not memorize your whole presentation, but rather your opening, key points, and conclusion. Rehearse your speech enough so you can’t forget it.

Giving a speech is not reciting a prologue for a play or memorising lines like an actor. If speeches are memorized word by word, there are many risks that they will be dull and monotonous to the audience. Some of the best speeches capture real-time emotions and those that interact with their audience.

Due to this misbelief, people freeze or blank out many times on the stage, leading to further nervousness and a lack of confidence when they cannot remember their next sentence. Rehearsing is advised to refine the overall presence. In the moment of delivering the speech, the person should be flexible in their wording, to allow for unexpected interaction, questions, and overall stage competence.

Myth 5: All questions should be answered at the end of the presentation

Think about your work or everyday life, when someone asks you a question, how do you usually respond?
 Do you take a minute to think about your answer before launching into an explanation?

There are seemingly a thousand ways to answer a question and the kind of answer you give and how you deliver it can go a long way in helping to build positive relationships with other people. It is a myth that all questions should be answered at the end of the presentation. Prepare yourself to answer the query of the people in between the presentation. This makes the presentation more real and natural.

Myth 6: You’re ready to speak once you’ve overcome the nerves

The nervousness that we experience before public speaking makes us extra cautious and increases our sense of awareness, but many times backfires when we let the nerves take over. Always keep in mind, that nervousness is a very common and natural part of giving a speech. Don’t believe in the myth that only a novice gets nervous and is therefore not considered an expert when it comes to public speaking. Nerves are normal, they don’t need to be abolished, only controlled, and put into perspective.

So, try and try again. Don’t believe the myths that society has made up. If you tie your success to these, then you might fall behind. Without trying, you will never know your value and the audiences you can reach. Don’t let the anxiety of speaking or making mistakes stop you from becoming a thought leader. Mistakes are unavoidable and perfection is a myth.

Do you need help with preparing for a presentation or speech? Book a free chat here with Alyssa for professional, non-judgmental support and advice.