John Harrison's BSA conference call in October 2007 included a lively discussion on fear and stammering. This is a condensed version of some of John's comments.

As a public speaking coach, I've discovered that most people, fluent or not, are frightened and anxious about public speaking. Surveys of people's fears support this. In fact, public speaking is listed as the number one fear (even ahead of dying!)

A fluent person's fear of speaking can be overwhelming. However, in my workshops, if I can convince the individual to go with the fear, rather than to hold it back, the choice to be fully present in the moment usually lessens the fear and may even disappear it. If you choose to do what you're afraid of doing, you're back in control. You become empowered because you're doing what you want, rather than acting as a victim of other people's expectations.

I first saw this principle in action when I was facilitating a chapter meeting of the National Stuttering Association in America. On this particular evening one of our members was having considerable difficulty with blocks and other struggle behavior.

Half way into her talk I interrupted her. "What are you feeling?" I said.

"I'm feeling embarrassed," she replied. "I'm feeling scared and blocked and frustrated."

"Great!" I said. "At least you know what you're feeling. Can you make a conscious choice to actually have those feelings?" She gave me a strange look, nodded yes, and started to talk again. Interestingly, she instantly had less difficulty.

Once again I stopped her. "Very good. Now, can you double the fear? Can you actually choose to be twice as embarrassed and fearful?" She looked at me as if I'd completely lost it. But she said she'd try, and when she did, something very magical happened.

She stopped fighting herself. She just spoke. And suddenly she was speaking without any blocks. (This doesn't happen so dramatically with everybody, but it does prove a point.)

Fear has a purpose. The emotion is generated by the primitive brain, and it's there to make sure you do what's necessary to physically survive. Although the higher learning centres of your cerebral cortex are highly evolved, the primitive brain has remained more or less constant for 200 to 300 million years. Consequently, it has never learned to distinguish between physical threats and social threats. Every threat is seen in terms of life or death and becomes a potential trigger for a fight or flight response. That's true whether you're talking to your boss or something as simple as ordering a cup of tea.

The only way to change that drastic response is to teach your primitive brain that when you order a cup of tea you don't need to marshal the same defences necessary to fight off a mugger.

How do you do this? In addition to the work you may be doing in speech and/or cognitive therapy, it's helpful to find a safe place where you can experience any fears associated with free expression and learn that they won't kill you.

Having risky/safe real-life experiences through active participation in Toastmasters, Association of Speakers Clubs or a similar organisation can go a long way toward turning speaking - to one person or 100 - into a fun activity.

Remember, having fun is the best antidote to performance fears. And the path to fun starts with being honest about what you're feeling and giving yourself the freedom to be yourself.

John also spoke at length on the impact of allowing yourself to be motivated by your intentions rather than your expectations. You can read about this in his article 'How your expectations can sink your ship' - www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad9/papers/harrison9.html

From the Spring 2008 issue of 'Speaking Out', page 6

 © 2008 John Harrison

See also:
John Harrison links.
Public speaking.
BSA conference calls.