If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “How can I the overcome fear of public speaking?”—you’re not alone. Many of the women I coach have prepared, practised, and still feel the nerves taking over. That’s because confidence isn’t just built through repetition—it’s shaped by how you think. Your mindset matters more than you might realise. We’re often told that practice makes perfect. Rehearse your speech. Know your script. Run through it again and again until it’s second nature.
And yes—practice helps. But one thing I’ve learned, both through personal experience and in coaching women who struggle with public speaking anxiety: practice alone doesn’t fix the fear.
You can prepare every word. You can rehearse in front of the mirror. You can even nail it in front of a friend. But when it comes to speaking up in a meeting or stepping onto a stage, that old fear can still creep in—tight chest, shaky voice, racing thoughts.
That’s because fear doesn’t live in your script.
It lives in your mindset.
My Lightbulb Moment
I used to think that if I practised enough, the nerves would disappear. I’d repeat my lines over and over, thinking that would be enough. But then I’d stand up to speak and still feel my heart pounding, my mouth dry, and my mind racing ahead.
It wasn’t until I looked at what I believed about myself—about what it meant to be heard, to be judged, to get it wrong—that things started to shift.
I had to change the story I was telling myself.
Instead of aiming to get it “right”, I started asking myself:
“What if the goal isn’t to be perfect, but to be present?”
Why Practice Doesn’t Always Calm the Nerves
If you’ve ever practised a presentation a dozen times and still felt terrified when the moment came to speak, you’re not alone.
That feeling often isn’t about being unprepared. It’s about how you’re processing the experience.
You might be telling yourself:
- “Everyone’s judging me.”
- “I can’t mess this up.”
- “I’m not a good speaker.”
Those thoughts become a script of their own—and no amount of practice can drown them out if you don’t question them.
This is where mindset matters. Because if you’re telling yourself a story that reinforces fear, then practising the speech over and over can actually reinforce the fear too. You’re rehearsing with tension, with self-doubt, with pressure.
What If the Answer to “How Do I Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking?” Starts With Mindset?
When clients come to me asking, “how do I overcome the fear of public speaking?” we often start not with techniques, but with mindset. What are you telling yourself before you speak? It isn’t just what they’re doing to prepare—but how they’re thinking about the experience as a whole.
The mindset you bring into a speaking situation can change everything.
Are you focusing on what might go wrong—or what you’re proud to share?
Are you imagining a room full of judgement—or people who are open and curious?
Are you trying to impress—or to connect?
These questions matter. Because your thoughts don’t just sit quietly in the background. They affect how you feel in your body. They influence how you sound, how you move, and how present you are in the moment.
One helpful mindset shift is to reframe nerves as excitement. It might sound overly simple, but telling yourself “I’m excited” rather than “I’m scared” can have a real impact on how your body responds. This piece from Harvard Business Review explains why that reframe works—and how it can help you feel more in control.
When your mindset shifts from fear and pressure to purpose and connection, something softens. You breathe more easily. You feel more grounded. You stop trying to control every word, and start speaking from a more honest place.
And that’s when things start to shift—not just in how you sound, but how you feel while you’re doing it.
Three Mindset Shifts That Matter More Than Perfect Practice
If you want your practice to actually reduce your fear—not just repeat it—these are three mindset shifts I’ve found to be game-changers:
1. From “I need to get this right” to “I want to connect”
When the goal is perfection, every stumble feels like failure. But when the goal is connection, you can be more human, more real, more you. That’s often what people respond to most.
2. From “I’m not good at this” to “I’m still learning”
Nobody becomes a confident speaker overnight. Public speaking is a skill—and like any skill, it improves with time, support, and the right mindset.
Try saying to yourself: “I’m learning to get more comfortable with this.” It’s honest, and it gives you space to grow.
3. From “This has to go well” to “This is one step on the journey”
The pressure to perform perfectly can be overwhelming. But when you see each opportunity to speak as part of a bigger process—not a one-off test—you take some of that pressure off.
Even if it doesn’t go perfectly, you’ve gained insight, courage, and experience. That’s progress.
My Practice Looks Different Now
These days, when I prepare for something that pushes me—whether that’s speaking to a new audience or sharing a vulnerable story—I still practise. But I also check in with how I’m thinking.
Am I being kind to myself?
Am I letting myself grow?
Am I reminding myself that this isn’t about getting it perfect—it’s about showing up with clarity, warmth and confidence?
Because that’s what makes the biggest difference in how I feel—and how I come across.
Want to Feel More Confident When You Speak?
So if you’re still wondering how do I overcome the fear of public speaking, know that you’re not alone—and that change is possible. With the right support and a mindset shift, it really does get easier.
That’s exactly what I help women with in The Confidence Blueprint – my one-to-one public speaking support package. It’s designed to help you shift your thinking, not just your words, so that you can speak up with more confidence, calm, and clarity.
You can find out more on the website or drop me a message if you want to chat through whether it’s right for you.
And if you’d like public speaking tips straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter. You’ll get exclusive access to free resources, support, and live sessions to help you speak with more ease—wherever you are in your journey.
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