How to reduce a fear of speaking in public

A recent survey ranks fear of public speaking higher than death, if you are in that category you are in good company, but there is also a lot you can do to reduce and manage any nerves you have, says Annmarie O’Connor

IT’S not often that I am at a loss for words. Speechlessness is an occupational hazard for a media professional, so I always carry some spare colloquial change should I be caught short. Handy when faced with the enormity of delivering my first TEDx talk.

Of course, the very moment I could have used the dig-out, my mental pockets were empty. I stood there looking like I had been slapped in the gob with a mouldy turnip.