Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking. Roughly 75% of the world suffers from this social phobia to some extent. The exact cause of glossophobia is hard to pinpoint but both genetic factors and traumatic experiences of one’s past can play a role. There is, however, a silver lining. Deliberate practice can help overcome glossophobia over a period of time. 

2020 plunged us in front of the video conferencing tools. We were learning, working and connecting online. There was no option but to get in front of the camera and start talking. While we spoke more, we communicated less. More importantly, communicated less effectively. Things are unlikely to go back to the way they were. In this new normal, it is time all of us adapt our communication styles.  

If there is one skill you should work on in 2022, it should be effective public speaking. If you are already good, try and get better. If you struggle, like roughly ~75% of the world’s population, it is time for deliberate practice. 

Public speaking is not something you can get good at by downloading an app. Just like you can’t learn driving by reading instruction manuals, you can’t become a good public speaker with a hands-off approach. You need to immerse yourself. 

Craving comfort all the time is a recipe for disaster. Success in life comes down to the number of difficult conversations you are willing to have – with yourself and with the groups of people you work with. But to have thoughtful conversations that are difficult in nature, you need to learn to speak effectively, like Warren Buffet did. 

Buffet says that learning public speaking was the best investment he ever made. It turned out to be an asset that continues to pay dividends even today - 90 years and counting. Had he not taken corrective measures, his discomfort with public speaking would have been a huge liability. 

You shouldn’t try and get better at public speaking because you want to prove a point to someone somewhere. FOMO-induced goal setting rarely works. To understand why, let’s explore the two components of motivation. 

1. Extrinsic Motivation: Extrinsic motivation refers to behavior that is driven by external rewards such as fame, grades, and praise.
2. Intrinsic Motivation: Intrinsic motivation is the act of doing something without any obvious external rewards. The pursuit is the pleasure and the reward. 

Intrinsic motivation matters for public speaking. Public speaking is a way for you to share your story and explore a deep connect with the world. You can’t be authentic if fame and praise are at the back of your mind. While practicing and delivering your talk/presentation, you need to “be here now”, as the spiritualist Ram Dass suggests in his best-selling book. 

As you get better at public speaking, there will be heaps of tangible benefits along the way. You will-      

• Get promoted faster
• Hire better/ find better work opportunities
• More people will come to you with new opportunities
• You will negotiate better
  

This list goes on. You get the drift. However, this utilitarian way of looking at fundamental skills like public speaking misses the point of learning, especially learning in a way that lasts.