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Hey Manchester! The Fear of Public Speaking is Expensive.

Writer's picture: Mark Westbrook Mark Westbrook

fear of public speaking
Manchester - The Fear of Public Speaking is costing you

From sweaty palms to a racing heart, most people admit to feeling petrified when presenting. However, while it may seem harmless, having an intense fear of public speaking can severely restrict your success and bank account. This hidden cost surfaces through lost opportunities, stunted advancement, and much lower salaries.


How Anxiety Debilitates

Let’s examine the physical symptoms of public speaking dread. Sweaty hands, pounding heart, trembling knees, dry mouth, churning stomach, and the mind going blank. These involuntary reactions stem from perceived danger. But in front of a crowd, they greatly reduce your ability to communicate smoothly.


This fear can cripple performance in many situations – important meetings, workplace briefings for the executive team, media interviews, academic conferences, and more. Extensive studies prove speech anxiety frequently equates to poorer communication skills overall. Senior leaders with a phobia of presenting tend to be less motivating and decisive. This nervousness also negatively impacts perceived employability.


Research by LSE found anxious speakers scored 15% lower in effectiveness because nervous tics, lack of eye contact, and monotonous tone gave away their angst. Without realising it, their nerves impeded audience engagement. Their edginess also reduced ratings for leadership capability, likeability and intelligence.


In meetings, those paralysed by stage fright won’t voice suggestions or questions, so useful insights go unheard. Presentations lose impact without passionate delivery. Media appearances get flubbed when anxiety causes waffling or mental blocks. Conferences become unfruitful when fear prevents networking.


In all realms of business, politics, academia and more, smooth communicators have an edge. The ability to pitch ideas with confidence is a major advantage. Unfortunately, speech anxiety is a huge barrier.


Fewer Opportunities to Advance

Fear causes people to avoid high-visibility speaking roles, presentations and leadership chances. But dodging these growth experiences can slow career progression. Missed opportunities include building your reputation, getting face time with decision makers, gaining new abilities and making connections.


Public speaking chops become increasingly vital for moving into lucrative management, director and executive roles. Senior posts require poised communication and presence to be the public face of an organisation. Anxiety often deters people from considering these upward moves at all.


A Lloyds banker admitted his excruciating nervousness delivering university group presentations meant he never pursued elite consulting careers requiring public remarks. A Selfridges marketer confessed she declined offers to teach public seminars because of stage fright, limiting her authority and influence.


Even introverts must conquer shyness to get ahead. Research shows more extroverted employees get earlier promotions and earn up to £20,000 more by their late 40s. Public speaking talents expand your possibilities beyond technical expertise alone.


Lower Pay and Lost Earnings

Multiple studies confirm speech anxiety strongly correlates with reduced pay. Shy professionals miss key situations to earn more, like delivering client pitches, media appearances, product launches, charity appeals and requesting promotions or raises.


A Barclays sales manager shared how his best introverted reps lost thousands in commission by avoiding major client presentations. An ActionAid director explained how anxiety prevented her making impassioned public fundraising pleas, decreasing donations.


Speech nerves also make self-promotion extremely difficult. People get visibly uncomfortable discussing successes with higher-ups, costing thousands over a career. Avoiding high-stakes sales talks is similarly costly for commission-based sales professionals.


According to one LSE study, every one-point increase in public speaking worry on a five-point scale equalled £750 less income. That’s almost £4,000 annually for those with extreme speech anxiety. Considering 30-year income growth, defeating nerves could mean hundreds of thousands in extra lifetime earnings.


Self-Doubt and Low Morale

Speech worries also feed destructive cycles of eroding confidence and imposter syndrome. Fearing looking foolish before others, people conclude they have nothing worthwhile to say. Refusing speaking chances reinforces this assumption, worsening self-esteem.


This low confidence manifests through meek body language, negative self-talk and more hesitance to speak up. Pre-speech anxiety telegraphs to audiences as unconvincing delivery lacking authority. Thus, fear becomes self-fulfilling.


Breaking free requires defeating the fear of public speaking through repeated exposure. With each successful talk, assurance builds bit by bit. Public remarks become linked to achievement rather than embarrassment. Mastering nerves provides true empowerment.


The Rewards of Courage

The good news is speech anxiety can be reduced through preparation, practice and mindset adjustments. Helpful techniques include learning deep breathing, developing structured content, extensive rehearsals and adopting a positive internal narrative.


With increased experience, it becomes clear most audiences are supportive rather than judgemental. Confidence expands when you know your material and abilities. Public speaking shifts from terrifying to thrilling. The sense of pride in closing triumphantly is profound.


This poise translates into improved leadership skills, seizing opportunities, career progression, higher compensation and motivation to pursue bolder goals. Vanquishing fear reaps dividends across all aspects of work and life. It signifies tremendous personal growth.


Take Action to Overcome Fear

In summary, public speaking and presentation anxiety has real hidden costs like stymied career trajectories, fewer advancement chances, dramatically lower pay and fragile confidence. But conquering this common British phobia is achievable through preparation, practice and mental restructuring.


The payoffs are well worth the effort, including higher salaries, leadership roles and robust self-belief. Don't let fear of public speaking limit your potential anymore.


Contact hello@speakfearless.co.uk today to get expert help defeating anxiety and developing world-class speaking skills. The possibilities are endless once you break through this barrier!

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