Public Speaking

"Blanking out" tops people's list of concerns about stage fright

By PT Staff, published on May 01, 1996 - last reviewed on August 30, 2004

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Public speaking, when you get right down to it, isn't all that different from a one-on-one chat. So why do so many people find it frightening? Researchers at the University of Manitoba looked into public speaking fears in Winnipeg, Canada, and found that a third of local residents reported excessive anxiety when speaking to crowds. Here's what concerned them most:

o Trembling, shaking, or showing other signs of anxiety (80%)

o Fear of one's mind going blank (74%)

o Doing something embarrassing (64%)

o Being unable to continue talking (63%)

o Saying foolish things or not making sense (59%)