The very notion of public speaking is enough to instill fear in many people, right alongside our most commonly shared phobias: spiders, heights, and instant group texts. And what could be more natural, given that we all evolved to survive best when we either kept a low profile or ran for cover when something that had the appearance of a public act was going on? The infographic that follows offers a public speaking “cheat sheet” that might help some people get through either the next talk or the next panic moment that triggers a talk. But is it really offering anything other than an overly simplified method for taming the human instinct to avoid public scenes?
Public speaking can induce fear in many individuals, and not just because they might fumble with lines or mispronounce a word. At its core, the fright many have stems from the basic human fear of being judged and the sense of vulnerability that comes from exposing oneself to an audience. This guide seems determined to tackle the fear of public speaking, but its approach lacks the necessary depth and understanding of what might truly inhibit someone from getting up in front of a group. Instead, it treats our fear as if it’s a simple coding issue, as if we just write a few words instead of doing a few brain activities, and we’ll be fine.
Step 1: Two Stages
the infographic divides fear into two “stages,” with each stage being controlled by a different part of the brain. The first stage is the basic instinctive reaction that comes from the emotional brain. In public speaking, what I experience is just a normal human fear. But normal as it is, I don’t understand why the “thinking brain” has the power to control the situation if the “emotional brain” goes into full panic mode.
The initial phase occurs without intervention—almost reflexively. The combination of a jolt of adrenaline and “manageable” symptoms—sweating and a dry mouth, for instance—tell us that the body is getting ready to either fight or take flight. Then, of course, the afterthoughts start. And with them, the second fear takes over: overthinking. This is where the brain starts with the reminders of all the possible disasters that could befall a person. Forget your speech? Yes, that could happen. Fainting on stage? A definite possibility. But the brain doesn’t stop there. (And really, should we expect it to?) Instead, it spirals out of control.
Step 2: Learn the Fear Process
Understand the Process of Fear The manual pinpoints the perilous path from controlled anxiety to out-and-out terror. The initial fear is one of the body; it’s something you can feel in your skin and bones. The second fear is all in your head, and all the worse for it. Catastrophic thoughts are the fuel that fire up the panic, and if thoughts were actually capable of lighting fires, they’d burn us to a crisp. Hearing our own panicked thoughts could only gaslight us into thinking we were in serious trouble.
Here’s the kicker: Your brain pumps out more adrenaline in response to these thoughts, firing up a loop of fear. This is a potent reminder of how our own minds can work against us. It’s not just that the audience is a threatening horde; it’s also that if you happen to fall on your face, you’ll have no one but your really very deadly accomplice of an inner monologue to blame for your totally imagined failure to recover.
Step 3: Assess Your Fear Level
Evaluate Your Fear Level The infographic shows a fear scale from 0 to 100 and says this is how we assess fears. A person at 0 has no fear and a person at 100 has the most fear and is probably paralyzed with it. Since most of us fall between these two extremes, a person at 50 on the scale has a fair amount of fear, but is also not at 100 where someone is unable to act and is in “utter terror.”
This text describes an interesting shift in the way we think about fear. It’s no longer just an intangible emotion; it’s also something we can measure. In theory, that sounds great. But when you’re struggling to breathe and imagining the worst possible outcome for your upcoming performance, fear can feel like anything but a neat, quantifiable component of your daily existence.
Step 4: Understand the Trick Your Brain Plays
Step 4: See the Trick Your Brain Is Playing on You This section focuses on the brain and its annoying habit of interpreting fear symptoms as evidence of danger. It explains why fear takes over and feels so hard to control. Mostly, though, I think it offers a not-very-helpful (and annoying) “solution.” It says to “understand the trick” your brain is playing. This is a little like saying to “quicksand victims” to “understand why you are sinking and stop sinking.” That is, it’s easy to say and pretty much impossible to do on command.
Step 5: Learn to Manage Fear in a “Laboratory”
Fifth and finally, manage your fear in a public-speaking “laboratory.” This is a safe environment where you can practice public speaking, much like learning to drive in an empty parking lot. Sounds clinical, right? Yet, the steps you’re taught to.
So Pulling it All Together
The Infographic tries to reduce the fear of public speaking into manageable parts and while it does provide some useful insights, it simplifies (too much, in my opinion) the emotional complexity of the experience. On the surface, understanding the “why” of fear makes total sense and can absolutely help you manage it. Still, when the spotlight is on you and the silence is deafening, managing the fear loses a bit of its magic.
The essence of the public speaking fear is human—it reflects an intrinsic drive toward social acceptance and an aversion to failing in front of others. This guide is a good basic resource, but overcoming this fear takes more than reading a few paragraphs. You must also engage in a series of structured steps to build a foundation for the confident presentation of yourself in front of an audience. And these steps demand a level of practice and persistence that some may find easier to achieve with a good dash of humor.
