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The average person’s heart rate surges by almost 30 beats per minute when delivering a speech in public.
That’s not nerves: that’s adrenaline flooding your system. And if you’re about to present on a topic that could impact your credibility, your team’s trust, or your business’s bottom line, that kind of physiological response isn’t exactly helpful.
I speak to so many people who are confident, capable and brilliant when it comes to running their companies, yet the idea of speaking in meetings or at conferences makes them want to run and hide. I get it. I really do. But public speaking isn’t something to fear or avoid. It’s something to learn.
Because, like it or not, your ability to speak clearly and confidently in front of others can make a real, measurable difference to the success of your business.
We need to stop thinking of public speaking as a one-off performance and start treating it like any other core business skill, just like sales or marketing. It’s something you develop, practise, and refine over time. And in today’s hyper-visible, always-on world, if you’re not using your voice, you’re being overlooked.
My Story: From Fear to the Finals
I haven’t always been a confident speaker. In fact, for many years, I had a paralysing fear of public speaking. As a natural introvert, I would have done anything to avoid standing in front of a group, let alone commanding their attention.
What changed? Not positive thinking. And definitely not “faking it till I made it.”
It was one moment: standing at a podium, heart pounding, legs like jelly, delivering my father’s eulogy. I was terrified, but I got through it. And it made me realise that life is far too short to be held back by fear, especially fear that can be unlearned.
Because that’s what public speaking really is: a skill. It’s not something you’re either born with or not. It’s something anyone can learn. Even introverts. Even people who shake at the thought of speaking up in a meeting.
Since that day, I’ve given countless talks and presentations, earned my Speaker to Trainer Certificate with Toastmasters, and in 2023, I became the Toastmasters UK Champion in Impromptu Speaking.
So yes, you can change. You just need the right mindset and the right tools. Here’s how I help my clients do exactly that.
The 5-Step Process to Build an Authentically Confident Mindset
If you’re someone who dreads speaking up (whether it’s a team meeting, a pitch or a keynote), you’re not alone. And there is a way through. Here’s the five-step process I guide my clients through when we work on their public speaking fears.
1. Identify the Fear
Not all fears are the same. Maybe you’re scared of being judged. Maybe you’re worried about freezing or going blank. Or maybe you dread something going wrong with the tech during a virtual presentation.
It’s important to get specific. Your fear has a root. Naming it is the first step towards managing it.
2. Challenge Limiting Beliefs
So many fears are fuelled by limiting beliefs. Ever watched yourself on camera and thought, “I look terrible”? Or cringed at the sound of your own voice?
We all carry stories about how we should sound or appear. These beliefs can be incredibly destructive, but they’re not facts. They’re just thoughts. And thoughts can be challenged.
3. Get Heart-Centred
This is the part that often surprises people. One of the most powerful ways to feel more grounded when speaking is to get out of your head and into your heart. This doesn’t mean becoming emotional: it means becoming present.
I learned this through meditation, and I teach it in my programmes. It helps you connect with your message, your values, and your audience, rather than getting lost in anxious thoughts.
4. Prepare and Practice
Confidence doesn’t come from nowhere. It’s built through preparation and repetition. When you know your content, know your slides, and have practised speaking it aloud, your nervous system begins to calm down. Your mind starts to say, “I’ve got this.”
Rehearsing might not feel glamorous, but it’s the secret behind every powerful speaker you’ve ever seen.
5. Take Action
You can read all the advice in the world, but confidence comes from doing. The more you practise in real situations, the more you teach your brain (and your body) that this is safe. That you can do it. And that, crucially, the world won’t end if you forget a word or say something imperfectly.
Each of these steps takes time and reflection. You don’t have to rush. In fact, I encourage my clients to slow down, to grab a notebook, work through each question, and take small, regular actions.
The goal isn’t to become a polished performer. It’s to become a grounded, authentic speaker who feels confident in their own skin.
Because that’s what real confidence is. It’s not a performance. It’s not about being someone you’re not. It’s about being fully you, and knowing that’s more than enough.
