Fearless Public Speaking
- Oct 1, 2021
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 10, 2025
Written by: Marlena O'Donnell, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Have you ever had a sleepless night before doing a presentation at work? Have you ever felt butterflies in your stomach when having to deliver a speech at a wedding or another social function? Would you rather be anywhere else than a zoom call when it’s your time to introduce yourself and talk about your business? You are not the only one!
There are many others like you who have glossophobia, or a fear of public speaking. I too used to be paralysed by fear when faced with any occasion at work or in private life when I had to do a presentation or deliver a speech. My heart would race so fast that it felt as it would jump out of my body. My throat was dry and my hands were trembling. It was awful. Sometimes I managed to deliver a reasonable speech, but most of the time, my speeches and presentations were riddled with unnecessary repetitions and filler words. All I wanted was for this ordeal to end!
And then it all changed. During my coaching training, I discovered ways of managing anxiety, including fear of public speaking. I used to be paralysed by the mere thought of public speaking. I am now a motivational speaker who speaks to large audiences online and in person. I am a member of a public speaking organisation and have won public speaking contests. I even give public speaking workshops and coach individual clients on how to speak without fear. You too can become a confident public speaker by changing your mindset and learning several simple techniques.
Prepare
This may seem obvious. When you try to do something last minute, you are more likely to panic. Preparation helps to convince your brain that you are in control and therefore you are less likely to worry about delivering a speech in front of an audience. If your presentation is not scripted, you need to remember key points you want to make. Rehearse your speech in front of your friends and family or in front of a mirror. The old cliche - practice makes perfect definitely applies to public speaking. Great speech makers such as Winston Churchill and Steve Jobs rehearsed their speeches endlessly.
Stay in the present moment
Whenever your mind starts wandering into the future and imagining how awful the experience of public speaking will be, bring your attention to something that is happening around you right now. Tune into your senses. Listen to a sound that is as far away from you as possible and then listen to a sound that is close to you. Saviour the taste and sensation of a drink or a snack. Perform a physical activity - dance around your house or go for a brisk walk. Pick up an object and notice its texture, temperature and colour. This should give your mind a break from anxious thoughts and bring you back to what is happening right now and not what may happen in the future. Your thoughts do not know the future after all!
Breathe
Before delivering your speech, take a few deep breaths. Concentrate on the sensation of breathing in and breathing out. Don’t forget to breathe during your speech either! When our breathing is shallow, our brain is starved of oxygen and it’s harder to deliver a flawless speech.
Pause
Do not rush what you are saying. Your speech will make a greater impact when you pause to make a point and give your audience time to take in what you are saying. A brief pause will also give you time to take a deep breath and stay focused.
Talk to your audience as if they were your friends
One of the things my clients fear most is the negative judgement of the audience. However, it is unlikely that your audience wants you to fail. After all, they have invested time in listening to your speech or presentation. They are on your side.
If you speak to your audience as if you knew them well (even if you don’t!), it will be easier for you to deliver your speech. Engage your audience in your speech (just as you would engage your friends) by asking them rhetorical questions or questions requiring an answer or an action, for example: “Raise your hand if…”
Smile
When we smile, our body releases dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. Dopamine increases our feeling of wellbeing and serotonin reduces stress. Smiling will not only help you relax but will also impact your audience. A person who is smiling is likely to be considered trustworthy and friendly, unless the smile is not genuine, of course! Smile as if you were meeting a friend. After all, your audience are on your side!
Don’t panic when your mind goes blank
Before your speech, prepare a recovery strategy if you forget what to say next. Once your brain knows this is covered, it’s less likely to get into panic during your speech. Use some of the recovery strategies below or prepare your own in advance.
Remember - your audience is on your side!
Pause and focus on your breathing. Be comfortable with silence.
Engage your audience. Ask them: “What has landed for you so far?” or “Do you have any questions?”.
Go over some of the points you have already made: “I’d like to reiterate…”.
Recall the last thing you’d said - it may remind you of what you want to say next
Use gestures when you rehearse and deliver your speech as moving your body helps with the flow of your speech (your body, as well as your mind, “remembers” the speech)
Enjoy delivering your next speech!
Think of a person whose speeches you admire. They are confident, eloquent, their audience is hooked onto every word they say. And now imagine yourself as this charismatic public speaker. There is no reason why this cannot be true!
If you would like to learn more public speaking techniques, please get in touch. I run public speaking workshops as well as coaching individual clients to help them overcome various barriers to success, public speaking being one of them.
Marlena O'Donnell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Marlena O’Donnell is a certified life coach, mentor, and motivational speaker specializing in freeing her clients from beliefs that are not serving them well. Marlena has successfully helped many people gain an unwavering belief in themselves, confidence, motivation, and courage to go after what they want in life through individual and group coaching, mentoring, and workshops. Marlena has personal experience of overcoming significant challenges in life and succeeding against all odds. This, combined with her thorough understanding of both business matters and personal issues, puts her in a unique position to help her clients successfully navigate their way through difficulties they face in all areas of life and achieve “the unachievable”. As a motivational speaker, Marlena inspires others to make powerful and lasting changes in their life. She has been a keynote speaker at business events, online conferences, and summits.
