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Fear of Public Speaking

According to a frequently cited survey, most people consider public speaking more frightening than death!

Personally I'd rather lecture to a thousand people wearing only my socks than die, but they are rather nice socks.

Many celebrities have suffered from stagefright and anyone who doesn't get a little nervous, is probably a few French fries short of a Happy Meal.

This is what people have said in the past about fear and the fear of speaking in public:

Franklin Delano Roosevelt famously said:

"We have nothing to fear but fear itself."

Shakespeare put it this way:

"Steel thy fearful doubts, and change thy misdoubts to resolution."

Mark Twain was a brilliant public speaker who always suffered with nerves - he said:

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear."

If you're not inspired by those and feel you need something more specific, then try our courses and resources page for a few suggestions.

Most books on Public Speaking will have a section on how to control those nerves, but I've noted the books that are particularly strong on the fear of public speaking and public speaking anxiety.

At Sans Souci Speakers Club, we take the fear of public speaking seriously and we work hard on reducing its impact, after all "Sans Souci" is French for "without fear".

We hope this helps and if you find any better advice on how to control those nerves, or have any advice of your own, please let us know.

Some of your concerns answered!

We all know that the hardest part of starting out in public speaking, is making that first contact - so we've answered some of your concerns below.

"I'm frightened to death of giving presentations and speaking in public"

We all were once, believe me, but we've had no fatalities yet! We can't emphasise enough that you will be supported at every stage by people who know how it feels and you will be allowed to progress at your own pace.

Sans Souci Speakers Club gives anyone from Solihull, Birmingham or the West Midlands the chance to make that progress.

"I just don't have the confidence"

Maybe.....maybe not, but we find that people somehow find their confidence after they've delivered a couple of speeches. Believe me, it's all about practice.

"I have a regional accent"

Great! So have most of our members. Everyone thinks of Solihull as posh, but not us! Forget the old image of public speaking being a form of elocution, that went out with flared trousers and hot pants .....my apologies if you still wear flared trousers and I wouldn't mind hot pants making a comeback.

You'd be pushed to find a regional accent not represented at Sans Souci Speakers Club. We've got members from Solihull, Birmingham, Coventry and others from as far afield as Wales and Scotland.

"I don't know how to put a speech or a presentation together"

None of us did when we started, but the ASC (Association of Speakers Clubs) provides a manual which sets it all out in easy steps. And anyway the more experienced members of the club are always there to give you advice.

Plus.....there is lots and lots of information available about public speaking, just take a look at our courses and resources page.

"I don't have the time to attend regularly"

That's OK. Just come along when you have the time. Many members do exactly that.

For a full list of dates, take a look at our dates page.

"I don't know if I'll like it"

No problem! Come along to a couple of our meetings as a guest and get a feel for things.

That should give you time to make your mind up.

Anything else?

I hope I've answered most of those niggling doubts, but if there is anything else that you would like to know, please contact us.

Why not join us?

If you really want to improve your public speaking and presentation skills.....why not join us?

Start by checking out what Manisha Sharma, our president has to say about Sans Souci Speakers Club. Then sit down, take a deep breath..... and contact us.

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Sans Souci Speakers Club - Building Confidence through Public Speaking