Public speaking is one of the most commonly reported fears, but just how widespread is it?
According to YouGov, 49% of British adults say they either have a phobia of, or are scared of, speaking in front of people. That’s a striking figure when you consider we’re not talking about simply having a few butterflies in your tummy before a presentation. And for some people, the fear is much more intense: YouGov found that 15% describe their fear as overwhelming and debilitating.
So, the data is clear that speaking in front of other people triggers a strong response in many of us.
Women Are More Likely To Fear Public Speaking
The data also shows a significant gender difference: 57% of women say they have some form of fear of public speaking, compared with 39% of men.
That difference matters. Public speaking is a skill we use throughout our working lives, whether we’re presenting a project, contributing in a meeting, leading a discussion or sharing our ideas with a wider audience. If women are more likely to feel anxious about speaking, it can affect how often they put themselves forward and how comfortable they feel being visible.
This Isn’t About Women Being Less Confident
The gender gap in these figures isn’t evidence that women are naturally less confident or less capable speakers. So, what might sit behind the difference? The way women are expected to behave, the scrutiny they can face and their experiences of being heard at work can all shape how comfortable they feel speaking up.
Why Speaking Up Can Feel Harder For Women
The fear of public speaking doesn’t exist in isolation. Our experiences at work can shape how comfortable we feel about speaking up particularly when we’ve experienced situations where our voices haven’t been heard or valued.
McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace research highlights some of the experiences women continue to face. In 2024, 61% of women said they had been interrupted or spoken over more than others, compared with 39% of men. More than half of women reported experiencing at least one competence-based microaggression, including 39% who said their judgement had been questioned in their area of expertise.
When you regularly experience your voice being dismissed, interrupted or questioned, it can affect how willing you are to use that voice. And when you’re already nervous about speaking, those experiences can reinforce the feeling that it’s safer to stay quiet.
The Need For Acceptance
We’re social creatures. Being accepted by the people around us matters, and the prospect of being judged or rejected can trigger a strong emotional response. Public speaking puts us directly in that position. We’re standing in front of other people, sharing our ideas and waiting for their reaction. It’s hardly surprising that this can make us feel exposed.
For women, there can be additional layers to this. We can face expectations around being likeable, agreeable and not taking up too much space. Those expectations don’t simply disappear when we enter the workplace. If you’re already conscious of how you’re being perceived, speaking in front of a group can feel like a particularly uncomfortable place to be.
Feelings Of Embarrassment Or Shame
I think it’s surprising how little we talk about public speaking anxiety, given how many people struggle with it. When I was dealing with my own fear, I kept it hidden. I felt embarrassed that I found something so many other people seemed to do without a problem incredibly difficult.
No one around me seemed to talk about feeling this way, so I assumed I was the problem. I felt ashamed that I couldn’t simply get on with it like everyone else.
Looking back, I can see that I had misunderstood what was happening. We look at other people and they seem confident, but that’s not usually the full picture. I thought my fear was simply part of my personality, but public speaking is a skill, and like any skill, it can be learned and developed. We need to be more open about how common public speaking anxiety is, particularly for women, and create more space for people to develop the skills and confidence to speak up.
Does Fear Of Public Speaking Get Easier With Age?
Interestingly, YouGov’s research found that fear tends to diminish with age across many of the fears it measured. Psychologist Kevin Gournay suggested that producing less adrenaline as we get older could be one reason why some fears become less intense over time.
But that doesn’t mean you need to wait for time to do the work for you. Understanding why public speaking makes you nervous, developing the right skills and gradually building your experience can all help you feel more comfortable speaking.
What Can We Do About It?
While public speaking anxiety is common, the good news is that there are ways to work on it.
So what can you actually do if public speaking makes you nervous? Here are five places to start.
- Recognise you’re not alone.
- Connect with your purpose.
- Set a goal to improve your public speaking skills.
- Notice what you’re already good at.
- Build confidence by putting yourself out there.
If you feel stuck, overwhelmed or unsure where to start with public speaking then this blog is for you: The First Steps Towards Building Confidence.
Further Support with Public Speaking
If you’d like support to become more confident speaking in front of others, my next group workshop for women starts in the autumn.
You can find all the details here.
