Public Speaking Cure Blogs
Public speaking phobia (glossophobia) is an intense, out-of-proportion fear response to speaking in front of others. Ordinary nerves fade once you start and improve with practice. A phobia tends to start days ahead, stay or intensify while you speak, and lead to avoidance. What helps differs between the two.
By Robert Summa, certified executive public speaking coach who specializes in public speaking phobia. This page is educational and is not medical advice or a diagnosis.
Is it nerves or a phobia?
Ask yourself:
- Does the dread start days or weeks before the event?
- Do you get several physical signs at once, such as a pounding heart, shaking voice, sweating, or a blank mind?
- Do you avoid or turn down speaking opportunities?
- Has practice failed to help, or even made it worse?
If most of these fit, you may be dealing with more than normal nerves. If anxiety shows up well beyond speaking, a licensed clinician is the right first stop.
What usually helps normal nerves
- Rehearsing out loud in conditions close to the real room.
- Knowing your first 60 seconds cold.
- Low-stakes reps, such as a speaking group.
Why those tools often fall short for a phobia
A phobia is a fear response, not a skills gap. Deep in the brain, a small alarm system called the amygdala exists to protect you from real danger. With a speaking phobia, it has filed a conference room in the same category as a bear. That is a metaphor, not a medical claim. More practice, positive self-talk, and calming techniques can help at the edges, but they do not change the response, and trying hard to calm down can add to it.
What to look for in help
- An approach aimed at the fear response itself, not only delivery skills.
- A provider who is clear about what they are and are not, for example coach versus clinician.
- A defined timeline and format, so you know what you are signing up for.
- Privacy, if you are a senior leader who cannot practice in front of colleagues.
Why Robert Summa
Robert lived with public speaking fear for 18 years, then trained in panic, anxiety, and confidence with psychologists and anxiety specialists. He brings 33 years of corporate experience, including advising the C-suite. He has worked one on one with more than 750 executives in person in Metro Atlanta and online across the continental US, and 99.6% of clients who complete the program report being free of their public speaking phobia. Results vary by individual. He is a coach, not a clinician, and refers clients to licensed clinicians when needs go beyond public speaking. His program is private and one on one, with a few minutes of daily practice over about 3 to 4 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between stage fright and a speaking phobia?
Stage fright is a proportionate surge of nerves that fades once you begin. A speaking phobia is out of proportion, starts days ahead, and usually leads to avoidance.
Can you get over a fear of public speaking?
Many people do. What works depends on whether it is normal nerves or a phobia. Clients who complete Robert Summa's program report being free of their phobia, and results vary by individual.
How long does it take?
For nerves, weeks to months of practice. Robert's program typically runs about 3 to 4 weeks.
Should I see a therapist or a coach?
If your anxiety extends beyond speaking, start with a licensed clinician. If it is specific to speaking and you want a private, focused program, a certified executive public speaking coach who specializes in phobia is an option.
