Is public speaking harder for introverts?

The fear of public speaking, or glossophobia in its real name, is a very common phobia that affects most of us.
Studies show that 75% of the population is affected by this fear, in some studies ranking even higher than fear of death.
Have you found yourself thinking that you would rather die than speak in front of a crowd?
Maybe it seems exaggerated, but for many people, the fear of public speaking is really intense, going from symptoms as sweating, shaking, rapid breathing or dry mouth to even more intense ones, like nausea or panic attacks.

Most fears or phobias come out of nowhere, sometimes starting in childhood or early adulthood.
Some have genetic roots and others come from environmental factors. Sometimes it comes from prior experiences, that have ended badly, leaving behind the trauma and a fear of ever repeating the same experience.
Behind this fear, there are actually other fears, which can be different from person to person. It can be a fear of being embarrassed, rejected, made fun of or maybe the fear of losing something due to low performance in the presentation.

Some people manage to avoid speaking in public almost all their adult lives.
But for many of us, public speaking, even in front of small groups, becomes necessary in most jobs.
People that suffer from glossophobia tend to over prepare for these moments, to experience extreme stress and to think too much about “what will the others think?” or “what if I fail? what if I block?”
How do you feel when you need to make a presentation in front of you team or maybe give a sales pitch in front of some clients?
If only thinking about it makes you nervous, sometimes even forgetting that you are very good in your job and that the things you need to present come very natural to you, you might have this fear.

I am sure that you would expect a positive answer.
But, while introverts are not very fond of big crowds, and often prefer to work alone and not in teams, this does not mean that they are not good at speaking in public or that they are more scared of it then extroverts.
Introverts are great listeners, which makes them very aware of the needs of the person in front of them. Maybe speaking or expressing their feelings comes unnatural, or not as easy as listening, but, when they are actually put in this situation, the chances for them to do a great job are big.
Also, another benefit in their favour is that they are very aware of their inner world, understanding and recognizing their emotions. This gives them a chance to address the fears they recognize and also find a way to deal with them or act despite of them.

Most fears cand be defeated by facing the exact thing or situation you are scared of, in a controlled and safe environment. Most fears are products of our minds, and the danger we fear is not real. If the fear prevents you from doing some things you want or from advancing in your professional life, it is a good idea to try and overcome it.
So, specifically, about public speaking. If you are scared of speaking in public, what you need to do is to put yourself in the situations to do it. Whether you chose to present your hobby in front of a few close friends or join a public speaking club in your city, any experience of speaking in front of people, where there are no risks like losing your job or missing a deal, will be great help to you.

1. Prepare. Be sure you have all the materials prepared in time, that you have the exact topics to be presented and also that you practice your speech, alone, a few times. You can even record yourself, so you can notice what went wrong and fix it before the actual presentation. 
2. Get organized. Think of everything you will need and everything that can go wrong during the presentation and get everything ready before. Any technical prop you might need, any reminders you need to send, check everything before, so nothing goes wrong during your speech. 
3. Do some deep breathing. Take a few deep breaths before you come in front of your audience, and, if possible, during the presentation, focus on your breathing and keep it as slow as possible. 
4. Focus on the information, not on the audience. Think about the audience before, when you prepare the materials and decide what you are going to say. During the presentation, is not the time to doubt yourself and be distracted. 
5. Visualize your success. In the days before the presentation, and while you practice, try to imagine yourself giving the presentation, speaking confidently, and even try to visualize the audience and how interested they are in the information. Positive thoughts cand help decrease your anxiety about the success of your performance.

If you feel the fear is very intense and there is no way you can overcome it on your own, cognitive behavioural therapy cand be a useful approach to reduce the anxiety around this experience. 

Because they prepare thoroughly for everything they do, because they are good listeners and they serve the audience with their presentation and because they are in contact with their emotions and can address them faster.
So, if you are an introvert and you were thinking: “I cannot speak in front of people because I am not an extrovert, I am not so comfortable being in the spotlight”, think again!