Expert tips on overcoming the fear of public speaking

With practice and these practical tips, you can transform public speaking from a fear to a skill.

Overcoming the fear of public speaking is the first step in becoming a confident speaker who can connect with an audience in a meaningful and effective way. For many people, it’s also an essential part of landing their dream job or applying for a promotion.

But the thought of speaking to an audience can make even the most confident professionals feel afraid and anxious.

Whether public speaking is a day-to-day responsibility of yours, or you give the occasional presentation to your managers, these tips will help you turn public speaking into one of your biggest strengths.

How one alum conquered public speaking

After completing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mathematics (now known as the Bachelor of Science), RMIT alum Emily Edgeley saw a life-changing presentation about cryptography, the practice of securely communicating confidential information in code. It was so influential that it led her to study a Master of Applied Science (Information Security and Assurance).

Her subsequent career in the cybersecurity industry was regularly punctuated by colleagues or trainers delivering presentations at conferences or in-house meetings. She saw firsthand how powerful public speaking can be when people actually feel comfortable doing it.

Gradually, Emily became so interested in the art of public speaking that she built a coaching business around it. She now specialises in working with people on developing a positive mindset, particularly those who find it nerve-racking.

“I help people in tech to communicate with more clarity, impact and confidence,” she said.

“That could be helping someone to feel better about delivering a presentation to a small group at work or speaking on a stage to hundreds or thousands. Or running a workshop to teach engineers how to use the art of storytelling to better communicate what they do to people in the business.”

Tip #1: Be kind to yourself

Be accepting of the fact that public speaking can be tough, but don’t give up on yourself.

Making mistakes is human and there’s no shame in stumbling over your words or forgetting what you were about to say.

You can also banish the nerves with some positive self-affirmations, said Emily.

“Replace any negative thoughts or worries with positive ones,” she advised.

“Give yourself the pep talk you would give to your best friend if they were standing up there speaking. Remember you’re in control of your own thoughts.”

Tip #2: Practice what you want to say

Public speaking is a lot less scary when you are prepared!

Knowing the content you’re presenting back to front is the first step to ensuring that you don’t rely heavily on PowerPoint or cue cards.

Practicing your notes aloud using these methods also makes for a dynamic delivery where you’re constantly capturing the audience’s attention:

Experiment with your pace - you may want to speak a little slower when coming to phrases you want to highlight or complex ideas you want your audience to understand.

Vary your volume slightly and speak with expression to avoid sounding monotonous and keep your audience engaged.

Moments of silence can be good for storytelling. Use pauses to build suspension, underline the power of something you have just said or build tension.

Tip #3: Build your experience

Getting comfortable with public speaking often comes with more experience. This is what facing your fears is all about!

Take up speaking opportunities when they come your way so you can figure out your own personal dos and don’ts. You might find it’s better to eat after a presentation rather than beforehand, or you might prefer to weave in questions during your presentation instead of saving them until the end.

As you practice and become more comfortable in front of an audience, you’ll watch your confidence build. As Emily said, “You can make anything happen as long as you’re determined and keep trying.”

Tip #4: Focus on your audience

A major hurdle for anyone nervous about speaking in front of an audience is the pressure they put upon themselves. It can help to reframe the notion of what they are actually there to do, said Emily.

“If you can shift from thinking that you're there to present, to thinking that you're there to give your audience a gift, it can make it feel much less daunting,” she said.

“This works really well for people that like to help others. If you can, mould what you're talking about so the audience gets value from it - [so] they can take action from it for a specific benefit.

“That can replace any empty ‘I have to perform’ feelings to ‘I'm here to give them some information that will in turn help them’, which can get you in a much better mindset. 

The knack lies in shifting the focus from you as the presenter to the audience and how they will be impacted by what you have to say.

“The best bit about this is that you can rationalise as the presenter that even if you aren't perfect, the audience will still see you as giving them a gift and that can really take the pressure off.” 

Ultimately, your public speaking nerves are no match for experience, preparation and self-belief – so with these tips in mind, you’ll be ready to tackle the challenge head-on.

Story: Kate Jones

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