Public speaking is a key skill in today’s world, whether you’re presenting at work, speaking at events, or simply sharing ideas in meetings. Yet, it’s also one of the most common fears people face. I know this all too well because I’ve been there myself—gripped by anxiety at the mere thought of standing up in front of an audience. But, through experience and persistence, I managed to overcome my public speaking anxiety. Today, I’m passionate about helping other women overcome their public speaking challenges and stop letting fear hold them back! In this post, I’ll share three powerful strategies that helped me conquer my public speaking anxiety, and I’m confident they can help you too. Let’s take a look at the first step.
Step 1: Why Having The Right Mindset is a Game-Changer
During my journey to overcome public speaking anxiety, I learned that overcoming public speaking anxiety isn’t just about practicing your speech or taking a few deep breathes—though those are important techniques. The real transformation begins with your mindset. So, if you’ve been trying to overcome your public speaking anxiety and you feel like something’s missing, you’re probably right. Personally, when I started working on my mindset, it was a game-changer. I wish that I could share with you some quick hacks to overcome your nerves but unfortunately, it’s not about shortcuts. The real key to reducing your public speaking nerves is by having the right mindset.
Do You Have the Right Mindset?
When I began to understand that how I approached public speaking mentally was just as important as the preparation itself, that’s when I saw progress. When you have public speaking anxiety, it’s too easy to get caught up in self-doubt, but challenging those thoughts is the first step towards success.
So, do you have a mindset for success? Understanding this can significantly enhance how you approach challenges and achieve better outcomes in public speaking. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Do you believe you can improve your public speaking skills and achieve your goals?
- Do you embrace opportunities to grow as a speaker?
- Do you see feedback as a chance to learn rather than taking it personally?
- Do you understand that perfect public speakers don’t exist?
- Do you believe failure is part of the process and a way to learn?
If you’ve mostly answered yes, then you likely have a growth mindset!
If you’ve mostly answered no, then you haven’t fully embraced the ideal mindset yet and so it might be harder to achieve the results you want. But don’t worry—this insight is valuable for guiding where to focus your efforts.
How to Start Changing Your Mindset
If you’re not sure where to begin, I’ve written a blog “Public Speaking Nerves? The Power of Believing You Can Improve,” which outlines six practical steps to help you get started.
Step 2: Do You Have a Clear Public Speaking Goal?
Once you start working on your mindset, the next step is to set a clear goal. When I first started out, I made the mistake of thinking that just putting in the work would lead to improvement. But without a clear goal, I found myself spinning my wheels, unsure of what I was really aiming for.
A clear goal gives you direction and keeps you motivated. It’s not enough to say you want to be a better speaker—you need to define what that actually means for you. What specific areas do you want to improve? How will you measure your progress?
Take a moment to think about these questions:
- What are your current strengths when it comes to public speaking?
- What challenges are holding you back?
- What do you ultimately want to achieve as a speaker?
Identifying your strengths and challenges helps you create a more focused and achievable goal. For example, maybe you’re confident speaking in small groups but struggle with larger audiences. Or perhaps you are good at structuring your presentations but want to reduce the use of filler words and speak more clearly. In my experience, it’s important to be clear on exactly what you want to improve and take this step by step.
Setting Specific Goals
Now that you’ve reflected on your strengths and challenges, it’s time to set clear, specific goals and write them down. Research by Dr. Gail Matthews shows that writing down your goals can make you 33%-42% more likely to achieve them, so it’s worth taking the time to do it. In my experience, it’s best to aim for goals that are slightly outside your comfort zone—but don’t feel too overwhelming. This is where real growth happens.
For more detailed guidance on setting effective public speaking goals, check out my blog post, “This One Thing Will Help You Become a Better Public Speaker.” It offers practical tips to help you define what you want to achieve with your public speaking.
Step 3: Commit to Regular and Consistent Action
When people fear public speaking, they often avoid opportunities to speak. I know this because avoidance was my tactic for a long time. But nothing will change unless you start taking action. If you keep avoiding public speaking, you’ll stay stuck. If you want to see real progress, you must start taking action, even if it’s just small steps at first.
The Power of Practice
Great speakers aren’t born—they’re made through consistent practice. If public speaking makes you nervous, remember that no step is too small. Start by acknowledging what you do well, then gradually challenge yourself with opportunities that push you a little further each time. It’s easy to rationalise delaying action, but there will never be a perfect time to start. Whether it’s volunteering for a presentation at work or practicing in front of friends, seek out opportunities to practice now. Consistency is key to building confidence.
Celebrate Your Successes
Recognise and celebrate each step forward, no matter how small. Reflect on what went well, what you can improve, and what your next steps are. I found that celebrating effort rather than just results was also a powerful technique. It’s also an important technique to reassure yourself that there’s nothing to fear.
For more guidance on how to build public speaking into your routine, check out my blog post, “Become a Great Public Speaker: Why Consistent Action is Key.“ It’s full of practical tips to help you make public speaking a regular habit.
Your Path to Confident Public Speaking
In my own journey, I found that embracing the right mindset, setting clear goals, and committing to consistent action were pivotal in conquering my public speaking anxiety. Each of these steps played a role in my progress, and I hope they can do the same for you.
If you’re ready to dive deeper into these strategies, download a copy of my recent webinar. It goes into more detail on the three powerful strategies I’ve shared in this blog, offering practical guidance to help you on your journey to becoming a more confident and effective speaker.
Share Your Journey: I’d love to hear about the steps you’re taking. Share your thoughts and progress in the comments below or get in touch.
Further Support with Public Speaking
Ready to shatter your speaking fears and overcome public speaking anxiety? As a public speaking coach, I’ve seen countless individuals transform their fear into confidence. I want this for you too!
If you’re serious about improving your public speaking skills, consider enrolling in one of my public speaking courses. These expert-led courses will help you gain confidence, reduce the fear of public speaking, and become an impactful speaker. Want one-to-one support? Check out my public speaking one-to-one support and start your journey to confident public speaking today.
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