The #1 fear

We all know that speaker anxiety is prevalent, but why? Why should something so natural, that we do each day, cause such fear and avoidance?

At the heart of the matter is being found out for being a fake; something or someone we’re not. That is the classic definition of Glossophobia, or stage fright. But there is something more deeply embedded in our DNA that we have to face and manage. In evolutionary terms, when any animal is being observed, it is being assessed for sex, destruction, being served as dinner, or a combination of all three.

When we stand on a stage or platform, and all eyes in the audience are on us, our primordial defense system kicks in and tells us to flee and hide. And as a former stage actor, I can tell you that one bad show or presentation greatly reinforces that fight or flight response. Actually, flight seems the smarter choice, since your audience will always outnumber you.

There is hope! In my next blog entry I will share techniques for managing anxiety.