According to Psycom, the fear of public speaking, also known as Glossophobia, is a very common phobia and is believed to affect up to 75% of the population at one time or another. Whether you feel a slight nervousness or full panic at the thought of speaking in front of others, this fear can have detrimental effects on your ability to effectively present your ideas. This crash course on how to improve at public speaking will provide you with strategies and techniques to alleviate your fears and communicate with confidence.

When you are presenting a thought or idea, the person or persons you are speaking with will use nonverbal communication (your facial expressions, posture, hand gestures, tone, eye contact, etc.) to assist them in interpreting you message as they listen. Your verbal message will be viewed as more meaningful and trustworthy if you are able to control your nonverbal cues and ensure that they match your words.

Like it or not, you will be required to communicate with others in almost every aspect of your life. Whether you are making new friends, networking, presenting your ideas at work, or even interviewing for a job — you will be required to confidently and effectively express yourself in front of others. The knowledge and skills you gain in this course will help you learn to organize your thoughts, prepare for these interactions, and impress others in almost any situation.