Mastering Public Speaking: Transform Fear into Confidence
In this month’s post:
Why is public speaking so scary?
What can we learn from freestyle skiing to help build confidence in public speaking?
Six tips and tactics to help you become a more effective, confident, and credible communicator.
Glossophobia:
The intense fear of public speaking is a severe form of social anxiety driven by the fear of being judged, evaluated, or scrutinized by others. Not surprisingly, public speaking anxiety affects millions worldwide—approximately 40% of North Americans!
According to the National Institutes of Health, 75% of people rank public speaking as their greatest fear—more than snakes, spiders, heights, and even death itself. (Although, I think I’d personally take on a room full of people versus a room full of spiders any day.)
According to a 2024 Report on Key Public Speaking Statistics, 85% of jobs require speaking skills, and 68% of individuals view public speaking as essential for career advancement (Zipdo, 2024).
With 92% of professionals believing that polished communication skills lead to better opportunities, overcoming public speaking anxiety is a worthy endeavour (Zipdo, 2024). Being a skilled communicator can make you more credible, make meetings more engaging, and elevate your leadership potential.
I’ve been sharing my story and strategies from the stage for over ten years in front of more than 40,000 people in audiences all over the world. Along the way, I’ve experienced my fair share of fear, stress, and anxiety, but I learned a few tactics to feel more confident in front of the room.
I’ll share those tactics, but first…
Why do I love public speaking?
Public speaking reminds me of freestyle skiing. While they might seem different, the experiences are strikingly similar.
The nervous energy before stepping on stage is like the butterflies a skier feels at the start gate. Whether you’re about to deliver a speech or launch off a jump, the mix of excitement and anticipation is universal. Both situations push you to rely on your preparation.
Just as skiers practice their signature tricks, speakers must focus on their opening and closing lines—these are your "tricks" that set the tone and leave a lasting impression. Even if the middle of your talk isn’t perfect, finishing strong ensures you leave a positive and enduring impact.
Both skiing and speaking offer immediate feedback. A skier gets applause or sees their score; a speaker sees audience reactions—whether it's nods, laughter, applause, or even a standing ovation. That feedback is your scorecard in both arenas, and it feels great to know you’ve made an impact.
The rush you feel after completing a ski run is similar to the high after a successful speech. A mix of relief, adrenaline, and pride leaves you buzzing.
Nerves are natural in both arenas. In skiing, they sharpen your focus; in speaking, they can fuel your enthusiasm and eliminate complacency. Understanding that nerves are your ally helps you channel them into a powerful performance.
And if you stumble? Just like in skiing, where you get up after a fall, in speaking, you keep going. What matters is how you recover, not the stumble itself.
So, you’re not a freestyle skier. Can you learn to love public speaking, too?
Some people wonder how anyone can overcome the fear of hitting 80+ foot jumps or fall in love with extreme sports, but like skiing, you can overcome the fear of speaking in front of large groups and fall in love with it in the process. When you get a round of applause and make an impact on your listeners, damn, that feels good!
Want a few helpful tips to help level up your speaking game?
With these tips, the next time you grace the stage, you won’t struggle with the anxiety-evoking qualities of public speaking. You can learn to communicate confidently in front of any group (in person or online).
Here are my top tips to turn fear into confidence:
Embrace Your Audience as Allies:
Keep in mind that everyone in the audience is on your team. Since almost no one loves public speaking, everyone is rooting for you to succeed. You’ve got a room full of allies.Anchor Your Value to Your Intent:
Attach your value to your intention. If what you plan to say benefits just one person in your audience, hold onto that thought. You can acquire steadfast confidence with the appreciation that you’re about to share a valuable message.Practice Makes Prepared, Not Perfect:
As the saying goes, practice what you preach. Just like skiing, you earn competence and confidence with practice. Practice doesn’t necessarily make perfect, but it makes you prepared. Great performances rely on preparation.Keep Going, Keep Flowing:
No one knows what you’re going to say. So, if you miss part of your presentation, your audience will be none the wiser.Script Your First and Last Tricks:
Spend time practicing your open and close. Open with a surprising fact, thought-provoking question, or story. Close with your impact statement. The “judges” rarely remember the middle part, so open strong and stick the landing on your last point. That’s what they’ll remember most. You will leave a lasting impression.Reap the Rewards of Speaking:
Speaking is inherently gratifying. It is intrinsically rewarding when you appreciate the opportunity to share your ideas. Openly receive the audience’s gratitude for sharing your message. This vital reframe can shift apprehension into excitement.
A Quote:
"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel."
- Maya Angelou
A Thought:
Leave a lasting Impression:
In any talk, delivering your final point with conviction is crucial.
“Stick the landing” of your closing remarks and impact statement.
If you’ve ever experienced speaking or social anxiety, consider how these tips might extend beyond the stage, classroom, or boardroom. What about before your next big interview, date, or social event?
These tips and subtle reframes can give you an extra boost of courage and a gracious perspective to help you become a more effective, confident, and credible communicator.
If you found them helpful, why not help others overcome their public speaking fear? Share this post with anyone needing a confidence boost before their next big presentation.
Gratefully,
Mike Shaw
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