Tech Tips To Go

Technology Made Easier

Category - Media

Topic - Public Speaking

Issue - How to overcome Glossophobia (Part 2)

Tiptoid -

Overcoming glossophobia is possible for anyone to do. In Tech Tip “How to Overcome Glossophobia (Part 1),” my friends Rachael and Hafsa offered some suggestions to overcome jitters. If you have a fear of public speaking, you may be glossophobic.

In this Tech Tip, I am going to show you some ways to help you get through the performing aspect of your public speech. Follow these tips, and you will become a confident and eager non-glossophobic speaker.

Make eye contact with members of your audience. If you look in the direction of someone's forehead, or right above their nose, it will trick them into thinking that you are looking at them. Maintaining eye contact demonstrates confidence.
Stand up tall and straight to remain calm and composed.
Use hand gestures to express yourself more emphatically.
There are many facial expressions that you can use, and there are right and wrong ways to use your face. Use facial expressions that reveal that you are confident and well-disciplined. Avoid overly exaggerated expressions, unless you are going for a full-blown dramatic effect. This tip applies to hand and body expressions, too.
Use your body to explain your words. Think of public speaking as a pantomime performance. Make sure your physical expressions communicate your points clearly, too. Move with moderation, and, of course, always be appropriate.

I hope these tips are helpful to you and that your fear of public speaking will be no more! I know that I am now able to present myself in public more confidently because of these tips.

Glossary -

Glossophobia - the fear of speaking in public

Find Out More -

“Overcoming Glossophobia” by Roger Seip, The Virginia Journal of Education, November 2006

This web page contains links to one or more web pages that are outside the FCPS network. FCPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages.

Submitted by - Rachel Ward

Site Managers - Chris Ricci and Yelser Deleon

April 2007