Your teacher calls your name. You walk to the front of the class, look at thirty faces and suddenly your heart is racing, your hands are wet and your mouth feels dry. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Fear of public speaking is one of the most common fears there is, and it affects students, workers and even famous performers.
Why does this happen? When we feel threatened, the body reacts automatically, as if we were in danger. It prepares to fight or run away: the heart beats faster, breathing becomes quicker and extra blood goes to the muscles. These reactions are very useful when you meet a wild animal, but they are not much help when you are presenting a history project. The problem is that the body cannot always tell the difference between a real danger and a class full of listeners.
Another reason is that we worry about what others think. Many speakers are sure that the audience can see exactly how nervous they are. In fact, listeners usually notice much less than the speaker imagines. A shaking voice that feels terrible to you may sound almost normal to them.
The good news is that this fear can be controlled. First, prepare well. Knowing your material gives you confidence, so practice your talk out loud several times, not just in your head. Second, breathe slowly before you begin; slow breathing tells your body that there is no real danger. Third, focus on your message instead of on yourself. Remember that the audience came to hear your ideas, not to judge your appearance.
Finally, look for chances to speak in front of others, even in small ways, like asking a question in class. Every experience makes the next one a little easier.
Many good speakers still feel nervous before they begin. The difference is that they have learned to speak anyway.