Fear of failure in public speaking is commonplace

Many people experience a fear of failure in public speaking. They are not fearful of public speaking itself; instead they are scared of looking foolish or appearing to fail in some way. It is this that prevents them from speaking in public.

The fear of failure is an anxiety brought on often by the way the person was treated as a child. They may have been chastised for failing to achieve certain results at school, for instance. Or they may have been told they do not live up to parental expectations. Whenever such individuals are placed in any kind of situation where they feel they are being "tested" these memories of the past trigger the anxiety.

If you suffer from a fear of failure in public speaking you need to address any issues from your past which could be affecting your performance and making you more anxious than necessary. Therapists can help you resolve issues of parental or school expectations which may be limiting what you can achieve. Alternatively, self hypnosis can assist you as well. But whatever you do, make sure you deal with the underlying cause of the fear of failure, otherwise you will never be able to confidently speak in public.

Labels: confidence, fear