Do Professors ever have a fear of public speaking?
I've considered being a professor, but I have a fear of public speaking. This is one of the most common fears so I wonder if this is something I could work through. Do Professors initially have a fear of public speaking? How do you work past it? #professors #public speaking
3 answers
Simeon’s Answer
RAHUL’s Answer
Hi Ansley,
Many professors and even professional speakers have the fear of public speaking, having delivered a number of educational talks myself, i can tell you that it can be daunting. So rest assured you are not the only one.
Coming to what can you do about it.
- Practice and be prepared for your presentations. Even the most skilled speakers put in a lot of hours in their presentations practicing.
- I would suggest you to join toastmasters which is a communication and leadership platform . IT is structured mainly to improve your public speaking skills and improve your confidence.
Hope this helps.
Allison’s Answer
I was a professor for a couple of years, and I will say that talking in front of a group of people (and being expected to answer all their questions) can be scary. It helps that by the time you become a professor, you should be well-versed in your field. Of course, you may still experience impostor syndrome ("I don't really know as much as they think I do!"), but this fades with time.
If you have a fear of public speaking, I recommend being prepared. I know that I don't always think well on my feet, so having plenty of examples and information ready before lecturing really helped.