Solar shares his experience with Lunar, speaking of fear of public speaking.
Solar: Let me tell you something.
I have given a thousand public speakings,
whether to speak in front of the audience of dozens of classmates in classroom or to speak in front of the audience of thousands of schoolmates in school square.
Public speaking is meant to make one's voice be heard by the others.
Yet one's voice couldn't be heard, when he was feared of public speaking.
Lunar: It takes some guts to give a public speaking,
whether to speak in front of the audience of dozens of classmates in classroom or to speak in front of the audience of thousands of schoolmates in school quare.
Why do students fear of public speaking?
Solar: They might be fear of judgment, lack of experience, perfectionism, physical symptoms, previous embarrassment, impostor syndrome and unfamiliar environment.
Lunar: Fear of judgment?
Solar: One might worry what the others might think of his public speaking, or does his speaking sound stupid or not?
That is why, students fear of judgment.
Lunar: Lack of experience?
Solar: Some introvert students have never given a public speaking with no experience of public speaking.
Lunar: Perfectionism?
Solar: Some perfectionists fear their public speaking wouldn't be perfect, that might hurt their self-esteem.
They wouldn't try it at all to protect their self-esteem.
Lunar: Physical symptoms?
Solar: The body's response like racing heart, shaky hands, shaky legs or dry mouth, can feel overwhelming.
They might be too panic to remember anything in their minds.
Lunar: Previous embarrassment?
Solar: The past experience of public speaking being laughed at, forgetting lines, or receiving harsh criticism can leave a lasting mark.
Their brains might associate public speaking with humiliation.
Lunar: Impostor syndrome?
Solar: Students feel they don't know enough or deserve to speak on the topic.
They fear to be exposed as inexperienced or unintelligent.
Lunar: Unfamiliar environment?
Solar: Formal presentation settings feel unnatural.
Lack of casual conversation might make the situation feel high-stakes.
Lunar: Fear of judgment, lack of experience, perfectionism, physical symptoms, previous embarrassment, impostor syndrome and unfamiliar environment,
all these can be overcome, right?
Solar: Certainly, they could be overcome with right solutions.
Lunar: What kind of solutions are right solutions?
Solar: Seven solutions advised to students are to
prepare thoroughly, shift focus outward, start small, use breathing techniques, reframe nervousness, visualize success and accept imperfection.
Lunar: How to prepare thoroughly?
Solar: Knowing yourself inside and out reduces the fear of forgetting.
Lunar: How to shift focus outward?
Solar: It is advised to lay worrying aside whether to worry your appearance or to worry the judgement of audience,
and focus instead on your messages and audience.
Lunar: How to start small?
Solar: One should practise to speak in class conversation, do presentation with a friend you trust, or join a group to practise with group members.
Lunar: How to use breathing techniques?
Solar: Deep belly breaths calm the nervous system.
A few slow breaths before speaking can reduce physical symptoms.
Lunar: How to reframe nervousness?
Solar: One should recognize adrenaline is natural,
and reframe nervousness as excitement or care to perform well.
Lunar: How to visualize success?
Solar: It is advised to picture yourself speaking calmly, and the audience responding positively. Mental rehearsal prepares the brain.
Lunar: How to accept imperfection?
Solar: One should remind that no presentation is perfect, and a small stumble is rarely noticed by the audience.
Lunar: Well. Hopefully, fear of public speaking could be overcome with these solutions.
Solar: Speaking of fear of public speaking, I'd like to introduce you Mr Introvert,
who had struggled with fear of public speaking, and who had overcome with right solutions, that we have just discussed.
Lunar: Mr Introvert?
Solar: Mr Introvert was too quiet, minding his own business at the corner of classroom, as if nothing was to do with him.
He might worry being labelled as inexperienced or unintelligent,
he might be in lack of experience of public speaking,
he might be worrying his public speaking couldn't be perfect,
he might feel shaky legs in front of the audience of dozens of classmates,
he might associate public speaking with humiliation that he experienced recently,
he might be in lack of confidence on the topic that little did he know,
he might feel panic and forget lines in formal presentation that he is not familiar with.
Lunar: It seems that he was the last person in the class,
who would ever prepare to give his presentation.
Solar: I didn't worry about whether his public speaking is good or not, but I worried was whether he could prepare to give his presentation or not.
Lunar: He could overcome the fear of public speaking, couldn't he?
Solar: Certainly, he could. It would take guidance and right solutions.
Lunar: What kind of essay did you assign to them?
Solar: It's an essay about fear of public speaking.
Imagine yourself during a presentation in front of the audience of dozen of classmates.
Ask yourself what might bring you fear of public speaking? Why would you be feared of public speaking? How will you overcome it?
Lunar: Tell me Mr Introvert's essay, please.
Solar: Standing in front of the audience of dozens of classmates, I worry being labelled as inexperienced, even though I was inexperienced, despite of hours of practising.
I feel shaky legs, which have caused the presentation being imperfect in the beginning,
and my minds suddenly went blank.
I can't remember the lines, and what I can remember is the humiliation of receiving harsh criticism at the last presentation.
But now I've learned to overcome it.
I prepare thoroughly, practise out loud, and understand what I was feared.
Before speaking, I take several deep breaths that calm my nervous system.
I shift my focus from myself to my message.
I remind myself: I'm here to share something, not to be perfect.
The fear of public speaking hasn't disappeared, but it no longer controls me.
Mr Introvert.
Lunar: How was Mr Introvert's presentation?
Solar: It was not perfect, but it was a good one.