Become a Great Public Speaker: Why Consistent Action is Key

To overcome your fear of public speaking and become a great public speaker, you need to commit to regular and consistent action.

If you’ve read “This One Thing Will Help You Become a Better Public Speaker,” you already know the importance of having a clear public speaking goal. When you know what you are working towards, the next step to conquering your fear of public speaking is to commit to taking regular and consistent action.

Overcoming the habit of avoidance

When people fear public speaking, they often avoid opportunities to speak in public. I know because avoidance was a tactic of mine for a long time. But with this approach I can pretty much guarantee you that nothing will change. Unless you start to take action you’re going to stay stuck.

It’s easy to brush off a chance to speak, thinking it’s no big deal. But, over time, this can silently chip away at your career prospects and also your self-esteem.

In addition, avoiding that presentation or interview just reinforces the belief that there is something to be fearful of. This, in turn, triggers the physical response in your body – shaky voice, heart beating through your chest, sweaty palms, shaking hands or legs.

To learn more about the fear response check out ‘Why do I always feel nervous when talking in public’.

The power of practice

It’s a myth that people are born great public speakers. Yes, some people are more naturally adept to public speaking than others – the same as with any other skill. But this isn’t as common as you might think.

Great public speakers learn their craft and hone their skills through continuous practice, reflection and refinement. So, if you want to become a great public speaker then the key is to take action.

If you’re afraid of public speaking, no action is too small

Now, I’m not saying that you should jump straight in the deep end and stand up in front of 200 people next week.(Although if that big action inspires you then go for it!)

In my experience, it’s better to start small. Acknowledge what you already do well, identify what you want to improve, and then keep taking small but consistent steps towards that. If it gets you started, then it’s a step in the right direction. As long as you continue to nudge the edges of your comfort zone, you will start to see improvements with your public speaking.

No matter how small the actions may seem, they have the potential to transform your public speaking skills and help you become a great public speaker.

Building confidence and public speaking skills

The best way to get over the fear of doing something is to get out there and do it. When I was on a mission to overcome my fear of public speaking this became my mantra.

Taking regular, small steps to practice my public speaking made a significant difference for me and it could for you too.

You might need to actively look for opportunities to get this practice. Whether it’s volunteering for a small presentation at work, stepping in to chair a meeting for your boss, attending a meeting on behalf of your colleagues, or maybe it’s joining a local speaking club, or simply practising in front of friends and family. Go out there and find opportunities to practice because each opportunity helps build your confidence and skill.

Don’t wait for the perfect time to start

If you’re anything like me, you’re probably putting off taking action to tackle your fear of public speaking. This is normal because we operate on automatic processes and we don’t change well on our own.

It’s also likely that you rationalise this. “I will give this opportunity to a colleague as it will be a good opportunity for them,” “I’ll put more effort into this when I’ve finished this project,” “I’m too busy to think about improving my skills right now,” “I’m just not naturally good at speaking and never will be.”

In fact, evidence suggests that intelligent people need the most help to question their thinking because smart people are the best rationalisers. They believe their reasoning wholeheartedly and will protect their opinions as solid facts.

So, stop waiting for the perfect time to take action because there will never be one. Unless you start to take action, you will continue to be afraid of public speaking, and this fear will drive the decisions you make. Don’t let your fear of public speaking hold you back any longer.

Don’t wait until next month or next year.
Don’t wait until you’ve finished that project.
Don’t wait until it gets quieter at work or less busy at home.
Don’t wait until you feel motivated to do it.

Now is as good a time as any!

Celebrate your successes

I found it a game-changer when I started to reflect and celebrate my success, no matter how small it felt. The simple act of recognising that you did something to move you towards your goal can have a profound effect.

Sometimes my practice sessions went amazingly well and much better than I anticipated, and sometimes they didn’t. But that’s life. I didn’t give up. I consistently showed up no matter how nervous I felt. I kept trying, kept learning, and kept celebrating my wins. Then, slowly, something amazing happened: my fear began to disappear.

To read more about how acknowledging public speaking successes had a profound impact on my public speaking anxiety, click here.

Why motivation alone won’t make you a better public speaker

Motivation is doing things when you feel like doing them and discipline is doing things regardless of how you feel. You won’t always feel motivated, nobody does. So don’t rely too heavily on motivation. People that make progress are the ones that show up consistently regardless of how they feel.

Try it for yourself

Can you commit to doing something every day for the next 10 days that will move you toward your public speaking goal?

Some days you’ll feel inspired and others you won’t. On those days try to be disciplined and do it anyway.

We’re not aiming for perfection though; we’re aiming for progress. So if one day you really don’t feel like it, then that’s okay. We are human after all. But don’t lose the momentum; pick up again as soon as you can.

Take actions that will move you towards your goal

You should already have a clear goal, so before you take actions, ask yourself: will this move me towards my goal?

Here are some examples of actions you can take:

Join a Public Speaking Group: Each week attend a local Toastmasters club or similar group to get regular practice and constructive feedback.
Engage in Public Speaking Opportunities: Find two opportunities to speak in public each week to get real-world experience and build confidence.
Seek Feedback: Present to a small group of friends or colleagues and ask for feedback on the specific areas you are working on (e.g. removing filler words, speaking slower, managing physical signs of nerves).
Attend workshops or webinars: Attend at least two workshops or free webinars in the next month to learn new techniques and gain additional public speaking skills.

Keep at it consistently, and you’ll start ticking off those public speaking goals before you know it. Each small step counts. Celebrate every win along the way. Soon you’ll be taking on the next public speaking challenge head-on.

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