Tweet

Public Speaking Panic !

Guest post by: Larry McMahon

Article Overview: How Stage Fright can wreck your business and career prospects - and what to do about it.

Public Speaking Panic !

The very first "executive" job I ever had, was (many moons ago) as a product manager with a large consumer products company in the U.K. I had just finished postgraduate training in Marketing. So I was really looking forward to my very first "hands on" experience.

There were three of us product managers, sharing an office. Each of us was responsible for the marketing of a group of brands. Derek (not his real name) was the most senior and experienced of the three of us. He was very confident and knowledgeable - and certainly helped me a lot, with his background knowledge of the industry.

Shortly after my arrival, I was told that I would need to start preparing for the annual sales conference. This was the annual ritual gathering for the sales force, when they all got drunk together at the company's expense. However, the serious business of the formal conference would take place beforehand. For the three of us product managers - this meant that each of us was expected to give a 30-minute presentation on the marketing plans for our brands. We were also told that our presentations should be "exciting and entertaining" and definitely not "boring"!

This did not phase me, as I had previously worked as a teacher - and I was quite looking forward to putting on my own half-hour "song 'n' dance" act ! I set to, preparing my slides and script. Although I must admit, as the big day got nearer, the 30 minutes began to seem longer and longer !

Anyway on the day itself, I think I gave a passable performance. However the real eye-opener was poor Derek. I had never seen someone "die" on stage before ! He was nervous. His voice quavered. His hands were shaking. He got the order of his slides mixed up. Pretty soon, the whole audience was squirming with embarrassment. I felt so sorry for him - but there was nothing anyone could do to help him. He was alone up there, and totally overcome by stage fright.



DEREK GOT DUMPED ON.

Afterwards, the boss was furious. Derek had "let the whole marketing department down - and made him personally look like a fool !" This, as I soon discovered, was the beginning of the end for poor Derek. From then on, he was systematically picked on, and humiliated - until he found another job, and left. It all seemed so unfair ( and stupid ) to me, at the time. Here was a perfectly capable executive, who worked hard all year round. Yet his whole career gets blighted, because of a mere 30 minutes "on stage". Yet that is the cruel reality for people working in organisations. If you happen to be a good public speaker - the company thinks you are capable, dynamic and effective. If you’re a lousy speaker - you are incapable and ineffective. Whether you like it or not - other people tend to judge you on the basis of a mere 30 minutes or so, on stage.



50% OF MANAGERS HAVE DEREK'S PROBLEM>

Since then, as a management trainer and coach, I have met so many managers, who suffer from Derek’s problem. I would go so far as to say that 50% of managers suffer from this form of stage fright. Some of them can just about manage to shuffle and mumble their way through a speech, desperately fumbling with their notes or cue cards. Others use Powerpoint - so they can hide in the dark - keep looking at the screen - and hope nobody will see them ! Others have a sheer panic attack....like Derek.



HOW STAGE FRIGHT KICKS IN ...

When you suffer from this problem, it seems to go as follows....You know ( at a conscious, rational level ) that you are an expert on your topic. You have prepared all your materials well in advance. You have even practised and rehearsed your presentation. And yet...at the same time, your subconscious mind somehow seems to think that this is a life-threatening experience ! So it turns on all the classic symptoms of panic...heart racing...difficult to breathe...mouth goes dry...limbs shaking...sweating profusely...mind going blank...

The terror may be irrational - but it is real !

But you don't have to give a speech, to have a panic attack. For some people, it can even happen at a business meeting. If you’re asked a question...whenever the other people turn to you...you're put on the spot...the centre of attention...the same irrational fear can kick in ! The trouble is though - if you say nothing at the board meetings - other people might just think that you have nothing to say anyway !



HOW DO PEOPLE COPE ?

If 50% of managers have this problem - how do they cope ? Well, for most of them they go to great trouble to arrange their lives, so as to avoid public speaking occasions. This applies equally to business, the golf club, family weddings etc. But avoidance can only get you so far.

One client of mine told me that he had once been asked to be the Best Man at his best friend's wedding. He spent the year beforehand, agonising and dying with fear. When the big day came - he solved his problem, by simply not turning up ! His best friend never spoke to him again.

Public Speaking Nerves can be a huge handicap to an otherwise brilliant career. And yet - if you can conquer this fear - and actually start enjoying public speaking – it can give you a huge ( and totally unfair ) advantage over your competitors in the organisation.

Some people go on public speaking courses, to try to cure the problem. On these courses, you can of course learn some very useful techniques. But unfortunately, these techniques are totally useless - if you’re having a panic attack ! Such training courses are fine - for people who do not suffer from stage fright.



IT'S ONLY A PHOBIA AFTER ALL.

Stage fright is an irrational fear. It makes no sense to the conscious rational you. But the unconscious you, turns it on anyway...no matter how much you try to "pull yourself together". In other words, it's a phobia. And like all phobias, the most effective way to "re-programme" stage fright, is through some form of hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy deals directly with the Unconscious Mind....where the problem lies.


LARRY MCMAHON - www.larrymcmahon.com

Related Articles
  “How to Overcome Public Speaking Fears – Ten Strategic Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach”
  Why Do We Fear Public Speaking?
  Maximise the power of public speaking
  Tips On Speaking In Public
  How Could Mastering Public Speaking Help Your Career?
  Speak Everywhere
  5 Powerful Public Speaking Techniques
  Simple, Effective Strategies to Help You Overcome Panic
  Anxiety and Panic Attack Symptoms Revealed
  Tips to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking
  Marketing Strategies: 7 Tips to Make Public Speaking Easier
  Public Speaking Business: How to Get Speaking Jobs
  Top Seven Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills
  The Elements of Great Public Speaking
  Is Mastering Public Speaking Good for Bloggers?
  6 Proven Ways to Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking
  How to use the audience for dramatic effect when public speaking
  Start Public Speaking
  How to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking in Seven Powerful Steps
  Panic on the Sales Force and What to Do About It

Article Tags:



Related Forum Posts
Public Speaking and Presentations - Hi all, I am a local business women who does not travel...but would love to be a resource for anyone needing help or suggestions on speaking/presentations and just plain old communications on the platform and off...I've recently had some training by two former World Champs of Public Speaking...It was the best weekend of my career life. Annette
Library to Meet - Has anyone ever tried the Public Library? they have meeting rooms there too and Toronto has over 30 locations with Free Wireless Internet.
My reading log - Hi OmnivoreInk, Before starting my business, I read the following books as research: -"The Art of the Start" by Guy Kawasaki -"The AdSense Code" by Joel Comm -"Don't Think Pink" and "Mind Your X's and Y's" by Lisa Johnson And since then I've continued my "research" by reading (in this order): -"Technical Tennis" by Rod Cross -"For One More Day" by Mitch Albom -"The Twits" by Roald Dahl -"Little Black Book of Connections" by Jeffrey Gitomer -"The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne -"The Profitable Retailer" by Doug Fleener -"Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell -"Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude" by Jeffrey Gitomer -"The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" by C.S. Lewis -"Little Green Book of Getting Your Way" by Jeffrey Gitomer -"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling And I'm currently reading and am in the process of finishing the following: -"There's No Such Thing as Public Speaking" by Jeanette and Roy Henderson -"The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell -"The Book of Tells" by Peter Collett -"Little Red Book of Sales Answers" by Jeffrey Gitomer -"Chocolates on the Pillow Aren't Enough: Reinventing The Customer Experience" by Jonathan M. Tisch -"The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity" by Julia Cameron -"The Inner Game of Tennis" by Timothy Gallwey
Lie about your fears - While I don't think it's ever ok to lie to a business partner or investor, I think EVERYONE is guilty at one time or another of primarily focusing on their success and business' strengths, while leveraging their weaknesses (e.g. If you have a small forum membership base, you might sell the fact that a smaller membership translates into better and more intimate discussions. In large online communities, many opinions can be lost in the masses). And whether you're working with a business partner or with other students on a school project, it never does the "partnership/team" any good if you show signs of fear. So I think it's ok to put up a brave face and maintain your composure at all times (even if you're feeling afraid and unsure about what you're doing) just to progress forward. Panic can lead to inaction and business failure, so I don't see the benefit of being honest about your insecurities. In fact, I believe the ship will sink even faster if both business partners are telling one another how scared they are of running their business. Am I wrong?
Re: Good day everyone! New here. - I feel you're on the right track Calflowers, there's a great group here, very helpful and engaging. Speaking of, is there anything we can do to help? What's your business? What are your main desires for it?


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

12 Principles to Spark Innovation

Rumor Has It

Web Design in 30 Minutes - Can this be Right?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.