by Gilda Bonanno
If you're like most people on the planet, you have fears. And like many
people, you may be afraid of speaking in public. Whether it's a mind-numbing, knee-knocking,
stomach-churning fear, or a milder, less invasive, I'd-rather-not-be-doing-this
fear, it can get in the way of your professional success and your personal
growth.
In my presentation skills classes, I ask participants to identify
their fears. Responses include what you might expect; for example, "I'm
afraid my mind will go blank" and "I'm afraid I'll lose my
place." Next, I ask the crucial
question, "And then what will happen?"
The responses always amaze me. When we dig deeply into that fear, what began
as "I'm afraid my mind will go blank" or "I'm afraid I'll lose
my place" ends up as "and then I'll look stupid in front of my boss,
and then I'll get fired, and then I'll lose my house, and then my spouse will
leave me, and then the dog will run away."
No wonder you don't want to give that
presentation - you fear that your entire life is riding on it!
How likely is it that all those terrible things will happen, as a
result of this one presentation? Very unlikely!
Yet
the fact that someone is worrying about these terrible things shows how
powerful fear can be and how debilitating.
Once
you identify it, however, you can subject it to logic (does this fear really
make sense?) and probability (what are the odds these awful things will
happen?) and start to weaken its power over you.
Franklin
Roosevelt said it best in his first Inaugural Address in 1933, when the United
States was in the grip of the Great Depression: "So, first of all,
let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself
- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to
convert retreat into advance."
When
I worked as an archivist at the Franklin Roosevelt Presidential Library, I
had the opportunity to hold the actual copy of that speech in my hand and
those words have stayed with me.
And
everything that we've discussed here about the power of fear is applicable
to all aspects of our lives, even beyond public speaking - we all have
things that we avoid doing out of fear. These
are things that we should and could do, like
looking
for a better job, taking an exercise class or getting a handle on our finances.
Think
about it - what
would you do if you weren't afraid? How is fear paralyzing your efforts to convert retreat into
advance?
If
you'd like more specific help with identifying your fears and lessening the
impact they have on your presentation skills, call me at 203-979-5117 for info
about my presentation skills coaching program.