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Biggest Presentation Fear and How to Overcome It

February 4, 2021

The biggest presentation fear often comes in the form of a question. Really, it’s that nagging, negative internal voice we all have. It loops and loops until we can’t let it go. It can imprison us.

Fortunately, there are some tips and strategies you use to minimize the voice and the fear. Please note, if you have an actual phobia, what I discuss here may help some. However, I recommend you seek help from individuals and groups ( support group article , Meetup , National Social Anxiety Center ) that are trained to work with individuals with Glossophobia (Fear of Public Speaking) .

Worry is like a rocking chair—it will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere.

The Biggest Presentation Fear (question)

Anyone who has stood in front of an audience, whether to speak or act, has asked themselves this question at some point. Left unchecked it can get the better of us. Before we know it, we are hot mess.

What will people think of me if I fail?

Let’s be honest. Most of us deep down (or not so deep down) worry about what others think of us. We know we shouldn’t. But the majority of us have been condition from early childhood to think this way. It is a hard mindset to overcome.

Standing in front of a group of people often brings this biggest presentation fear to the forefront. As a presenter, we give ourselves added pressure to be the authoritative voice in the room. “Failing” means loss of credibility and without that, the presentation is meaningless.

To overcome this common anxiety is a shift in mindset. There are a few things to remember to take that extra weight off your shoulders.

The audience wants you to succeed

Those in attendance are there to gain something whether it is new skills, become more informed, or buy a product or service that makes their life easier. They are not there to make fun of you.

When you attend a presentation, are you there hoping the presenter makes a complete fool of themselves so you can snicker and joke about it? Of course not. Many people share this big presenation fear and actually admire you for having the courage to get up in front of the group.

No one is born a master of anything

Think of someone you greatly admire for their skills and knowledge. They did not magically become that way. Because they worked really hard to achieve that level of mastery. Putting self-imposed pressure on yourself to be a master immediately, will only intensify that biggest presentation fear.

Did you know that Michael Jordan, the basketball great, was dropped from his high school basketball team? The coach told him he wasn’t good enough. Rather than shrink away as a “failure,” he practiced and trained until he was good enough to be on the team. His commitment to practice and training made him a legend.

Improve your presentation skills at your own pace

It’s hard not to compare yourself to someone else who has better skills. I fully admit to falling into that trap regularly. Only you can decide the pace at which you will improve. The key thing to remember - every time you practice, you get better. My blog post, Avoiding Common Presentation Mistakes , can give some guidance for improving your presentations.

Not everyone will like what you say and do

Accept it -- you will never get everyone to like what you say and do. Research has shown that it is rare for speakers to get approval ratings of over 96% consistently. Every time you speak, just plan for the odd 3% of the audience to disagree or dislike some part of the presentation. This is a good thing. Trying to be perfect is too much pressure. That pressure contributes to having this "biggest presentation fear."

Stand in front of an audience is hard. It is natural to be nervous and have a bit of fear. Often, it brings out the biggest presentation fear -- the fear of failure. To not get trapped by that anxiety, you need to make a mindset shift to get past those feelings.

Remember, the audience isn’t the enemy. They are there to learn from you. The more you present, the more experience you have. The more experience you have the better you become. Lastly, give up the notion that you can get everyone to like every aspect of your presentation. Perfectionism is exhausting.

In the comments below, I would love to hear what mindset strategies you use to overcome your fear of failure and to let go of the biggest presentation fear.

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How to Overcome Fear, Build Confidence, and Deliver Impactful Presentations

Public speaking can be a daunting task for many. The mere thought of standing in front of a crowd and delivering a speech can send shivers down the spine. However, with the right approach and mindset, you can conquer this fear and transform it into a strength. This guide will provide you with a roadmap to overcoming your fear of public speaking.

Understanding the Fear

The fear of public speaking, also known as glossophobia, often stems from past negative experiences or the fear of being judged. It's essential to acknowledge this fear as the first step towards overcoming it. By understanding the root cause, you can start to address it and work towards building confidence and overcoming imposter syndrome.

Steps to Overcome the Fear

Acknowledge the fear.

Recognising your fear of public speaking is the first step towards overcoming it. It's okay to be nervous. Even the most experienced speakers feel a certain level of anxiety before a presentation. The key lies in harnessing this nervous energy and using it to your advantage.

Understand Your Audience

Knowing your audience can significantly reduce your anxiety. Research about their interests, their knowledge level about the topic, and what they expect from your presentation. This will help you tailor your speech to their needs and expectations, making it more engaging and effective.

Master Your Content

Confidence in public speaking comes from knowing your material inside out. Spend time researching your topic, understanding the key points, and anticipating possible questions. This will not only boost your confidence but also help you deliver a more impactful presentation.

Practice Regularly

Practice makes perfect. Regular practice can help you become more familiar with your content, improve your delivery, and reduce anxiety. Try practising in front of a mirror, recording yourself, or presenting to a small group of friends or family.

Use Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or visualisation can help reduce anxiety and promote calmness. Use these techniques before and during your presentation to keep your nerves in check.

The Importance of Effective Public Speaking in Professional Settings

Public speaking plays a crucial role in professional settings. It's not just about delivering presentations or speeches; it's about confidently communicating your ideas, influencing others, and making an impact. This section explores why public speaking skills are essential for career advancement and promotion.

Role of Public Speaking in Career Advancement

Effective public speaking can be a career booster . It can help you stand out in meetings, influence decisions, and demonstrate leadership potential. Whether you're introducing yourself in meetings, pitching an idea to your team, or speaking at a conference, your ability to communicate effectively can open doors to new opportunities.

Impact on Professional Relationships

Public speaking skills can also improve your professional relationships. By clearly and confidently communicating your thoughts and ideas, you can build trust, earn respect, and foster stronger relationships with your colleagues, clients, and superiors.

Boosting Personal Confidence

Mastering public speaking can significantly boost your personal confidence. It can empower you to voice your opinions, share your ideas, and contribute more effectively to discussions and meetings.

How Training Can Help You Conquer Public Speaking Anxiety

Public speaking anxiety can be a significant barrier to effective communication. However, with the right training, you can overcome this fear and become a confident speaker. This section explores how public speaking training can help you conquer your anxiety and develop essential presentation skills.

Overview of Training Programs

Public speaking training programs are designed to help individuals overcome their fear of public speaking and develop confident communication skills. These programs typically cover a range of topics, including understanding your audience, structuring your speech, using visual aids effectively, and managing anxiety.

Addressing Public Speaking Anxiety

One of the key focuses of public speaking training is managing anxiety. Through various techniques such as relaxation exercises, cognitive restructuring, and exposure therapy, these programs can help you manage your fear and anxiety, enabling you to deliver your speeches with confidence.

Benefits of Training for Public Speaking

Public speaking training can provide numerous benefits. It can help you develop essential presentation skills, build confidence, and improve your overall communication skills. Moreover, it can also enhance your career prospects by enabling you to effectively present your ideas, influence others, and demonstrate leadership potential.

Top 10 Tips for Becoming a Confident Public Speaker

Public speaking can be a daunting task, but with the right strategies, you can transform this fear into a strength. Here are ten tips that can help you become a confident public speaker.

Knowing your audience can significantly reduce your anxiety. Research their interests, their knowledge level about the topic, and what they expect from your presentation. This will help you tailor your speech to their needs and expectations, making it more engaging and effective.

Use Positive Visualisation

Visualise yourself delivering a successful speech. This technique can help reduce anxiety and increase confidence. Imagine the audience clapping and appreciating your speech. Positive visualisation can be a powerful tool for building confidence and overcoming imposter syndrome.

Control Your Body Language

Your body language can communicate confidence. Stand tall, make eye contact, and use gestures to emphasise your points. A confident posture can not only make you appear more confident but also make you feel more confident.

Use Pauses Effectively

Don't rush through your speech. Use pauses to emphasise key points and give your audience time to absorb the information. Pauses can also give you a moment to gather your thoughts and control your pace.

Engage with Your Audience

Engage your audience by asking questions, encouraging participation, or sharing personal stories. This can make your speech more interactive and engaging, and help you build a connection with your audience.

Handle Mistakes Gracefully

Everyone makes mistakes. If you stumble or forget a point, don't panic. Take a moment, gather your thoughts, and continue with your speech. Remember, it's not about being perfect, it's about effectively communicating your message.

Seek Feedback and Improve

Feedback is a valuable tool for improvement. Seek feedback from trusted friends, colleagues, or mentors, and use it to improve your public speaking skills. Remember, improvement is a continuous process.

Keep Learning and Evolving

Public speaking is a skill that can always be improved. Keep learning new techniques, exploring different styles, and challenging yourself. This will help you grow as a speaker and keep your speeches fresh and engaging.

The Benefits of Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking

Overcoming your fear of public speaking can have numerous benefits. From boosting your confidence to enhancing your career prospects, here are ten benefits of conquering this fear.

Improved Self-Confidence

Overcoming your fear of public speaking can significantly boost your self-confidence. It can empower you to voice your opinions, share your ideas, and contribute more effectively to discussions and meetings.

Enhanced Career Opportunities

Effective public speaking can open doors to new career opportunities. It can help you stand out in meetings, influence decisions, and demonstrate leadership potential.

Better Interpersonal Communication

Public speaking skills can improve your interpersonal communication. You can become more effective in expressing your thoughts and ideas, and build stronger relationships with colleagues, clients, and superiors.

Increased Personal Satisfaction

Mastering public speaking can bring a sense of personal satisfaction. It can help you overcome a significant challenge and achieve a personal goal.

Greater Influence and Leadership Potential

Effective public speaking can enhance your influence and leadership potential. It can enable you to inspire and motivate others, and lead teams and projects more effectively.

Enhanced Ability to Advocate for Oneself and Others

Public speaking skills can empower you to advocate for yourself and others. You can become more effective in standing up for your rights and the rights of others.

Improved Critical Thinking Skills

Public speaking requires clear, logical thinking. This can help improve your critical thinking skills, which are valuable in many areas of life.

Greater Resilience in the Face of Challenges

Overcoming your fear of public speaking can make you more resilient. It can show you that you can face and overcome challenges, which can boost your confidence in handling other challenges in life.

Enhanced Ability to Inspire and Motivate Others

Effective public speaking can enable you to inspire and motivate others. You can share your ideas and experiences in a way that inspires others to take action or change their perspective.

Increased Personal Growth and Self-Awareness

The process of overcoming your fear of public speaking can lead to personal growth and increased self-awareness. It can help you understand your strengths and weaknesses, and learn how to manage your emotions and reactions.

How to Prepare for a Public Speaking Event: A Step-by-Step Guide

Preparing for a public speaking event can be a daunting task. However, with the right approach and preparation, you can deliver a successful speech. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you prepare for a public speaking event.

Knowing your audience is the first step in preparing for a public speaking event. Research their interests, their knowledge level about the topic, and what they expect from your presentation. This will help you tailor your speech to their needs and expectations.

Define Your Objective

What do you want to achieve with your speech? Do you want to inform, persuade, inspire, or entertain your audience? Defining your objective can help you structure your speech and deliver a more effective presentation .

Research Your Topic Thoroughly

Spend time researching your topic. Understand the key points, anticipate possible questions, and gather relevant facts and statistics. This will not only boost your confidence but also help you deliver a more impactful presentation.

Create a Compelling Introduction

The introduction is your chance to grab your audience's attention and set the tone for your speech. Start with a compelling fact, a thought-provoking question, or a personal story to engage your audience from the start.

Structure Your Speech Effectively

A well-structured speech is easier to follow and more engaging. Organise your speech into clear sections, each with a key point and supporting information. Use transitions to guide your audience from one point to the next.

Use Visual Aids Where Appropriate

Visual aids can enhance your presentation and make your points more memorable. Use slides, charts, images, or props to support your points and engage your audience.

Practice Your Speech

Practice makes perfect. Rehearse your speech several times to become more familiar with your content, improve your delivery, and reduce anxiety.

Prepare for Potential Questions

Anticipate possible questions from your audience and prepare your answers. This can help you feel more confident during the question and answer session.

Plan Your Attire and Logistics

Plan what you will wear and check the logistics for the day. Make sure you know the location, the time, and the technical requirements for your presentation.

Relax and Visualise Success

Finally, take some time to relax and visualise your success. Use relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or visualisation to reduce anxiety and boost your confidence.

Overcoming the fear of public speaking can seem like a daunting task, but with the right strategies and mindset, it's entirely achievable. By understanding your fear, taking steps to overcome it, and recognising the importance of effective public speaking, you can transform this fear into a strength. The tips and techniques provided in this guide can help you become a more confident and effective public speaker, opening doors to new opportunities and career advancement.

Remember, public speaking is a skill that can be learned and improved with practice. So, don't let fear hold you back. Start your journey towards confident communication today and unlock your full potential.

If you need further guidance or support in your public speaking journey, don't hesitate to get in touch with Fearless . Our team of experts is here to help you every step of the way, providing worldclass communication skills training tailored to your specific needs. Let Fearless be your partner in overcoming your fear of public speaking and achieving success.

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10 Simple Ways to Get Over the Fear of Public Speaking

As a review, the first step is to find out where the fear of public speaking comes from . Then, do a few simple things to reduce the risk of failure in those instances. (We will cover 10 of these tips in this episode.) Finally, you want to string together a series of successes speaking in front of a group of people. Basically, you want to get lots of practice so you can develop good presentation skills.

This is the process that we use in our public speaking classes. Your local toastmasters club and your local speech coach might use this process as well. So, presentation tips can help you eliminate presentation fear symptoms. However, to permanently reduce nervousness, you have to follow the process over and over. Every time you use one of these key tips and have success, your confidence will grow.

That is why a good public speaking class or coach can help you move through this process more quickly. If you only give a single presentation once a year or a couple of times a year, you will find it difficult to string together this series of successes. You will become a much better speaker if you speak more often.

Remember, stage fright is a common form of anxiety. And public speaking is a learned skill. No one comes out of the womb as a great public speaker. So a good coach or class can speed up the process exponentially.

10 Ways to Get Over the Fear of Public Speaking

• Realize that Most Public Speaking Anxiety Symptoms are Unseen by the Audience .
• Never, Ever Write a Speech Word-for-Word .
• Avoid Memorizing Your Entire Speech .
• Show Up Early .
• Take a Few Deep Breaths .
• Look for a Friendly Face .
• Drop Your Hands .
• Speak about Topics in which You are an Expert .
• Show Enthusiasm .
• Practice with a Person .

How to Use These Tips to Reduce Stage Fright When You Speak.

1) realize that most public speaking anxiety symptoms are unseen by the audience..

Even though public speaking nervousness symptoms like butterflies in the stomach, racing heart, shallow breathing, and shaky hands can be distracting to us as speakers, most of these things will be unknown to the audience. For instance, if you have a queasy stomach, how will your audience know? Obviously, if you throw up, they will know something is wrong. But if you just feel those tingly butterflies in the stomach, there is no way the audience will know this.

If your body temperature rises, you will feel the difference. It is real. But the audience will never know. If your heart rate increases, your breathing changes, or your hands get shaky, these symptoms are also real. You will feel them when they occur. But the audience can’t see your heart beating. They also can’t see your lungs.

Yes, they can see your hands, but unless you are holding something, shaky hands are really, really hard to see. (So, put the marker down. Don’t hold onto notes, etc. And your audience won’t even be able to see that.)

The point is that even the most nervous speakers can show confidence to an audience. This is important to understand because nervousness speaking in front of others is the most common fear. However, when we see other speakers stand in front of people and do very well, we often think, “Why am I the only one who gets nervous?”

You are not. It is just that those other speakers aren’t showing their nervousness any more than you are.

In fact, some symptoms, like speaking faster and moving more, can be perceived by the audience as being symptoms of enthusiasm. (More on that in tip #8.)

2) Never, Ever Write a Speech Word-for-Word.

The biggest mistake that a presenter can make is to write out an entire speech word-for-word. In fact, in my experience, this one mistake is often the root cause of almost all public speaking fear.

When we write a script word-for-word, we are most likely going to read it to the audience. (Which is really boring.) Reading a speech and sounding interesting is a difficult skill. You will repeatedly lose eye contact with your audience. In addition, if you sound boring, you will get negative visual feedback from your audience. Your audience will have wandering eyes or pick up their cell phones. This action actually causes more fear in the speaker. So, if you really want to get over your public speaking fear, don’t write out your presentation word-for-word.

In the olden days, we wrote our speeches on index cards or a legal pad. Today, though, we are high-tech. People often fall into the trap of designing their PowerPoint presentations first. They make separate bullet points for every single item that they will cover in the speech.

In all practical terms, this is still reading your speech. A better way to design a speech is to start with an outline of just a few major key points.

For details about what to do INSTEAD of writing a presentation word-for-word, see Create a Great Speech Outline .

3) The Single Best Way to Get Over Public Speaking Fear is to Avoid Memorizing Your Entire Speech.

Because we know that we sound boring when we read a speech, we often fall into the second most common trap. We try to memorize our entire speech. If you are already nervous and you try to memorize your entire speech, you will make delivering that speech much more difficult. I mean, if you read the speech, at least you have your cheat notes. However, when you toss the index cards aside and try to memorize the speech, you make the entire process much, much harder.

Your nervousness will shoot through the roof if you lose your place.

So, how exactly do you deliver an entire speech without memorizing anything? It is actually pretty easy. If you create an outline of a presentation with just a few key points, you will have a visual aid containing all the points. (No need to memorize them.) Then, all you have to do is prove each point by using a few personal stories from your experience. Stories are much easier to remember. They make your presentation sound more spontaneous and interesting as well.

For details about How to Be a Good Storyteller click here. If you absolutely have to Memorize a Speech , click here for an easy way to do it.

4) Show Up Early for Your Presentations.

If you are the presenter, show up well ahead of your start time. Give yourself time to work out any bugs in setting up your visual aids, etc. Also, get a feel for the room and the setting that you will be presenting in.

Something will always go wrong during even the simplest of presentation setups. For instance, a few weeks ago, I got to the meeting room an hour ahead of my start time. It was a good thing too. Because when I turned on my laptop, the computer began an update. Since I was there so early, it wasn’t a big deal, though.

The laptop slowly moved to 20%. Then 40%. At this point, I started looking at my watch. My class was scheduled to begin in less than 20 minutes. This update was taking forever. When it got to 80% and a few class members started to arrive in the meeting room, I began to worry a little.

Luckily, though, the laptop sped through the last few percentage points, restarted, and I was ready to go. If I had rolled into the room 15 minutes before the speech, though, I might have experienced a panic attack, though.

So, if you are the speaker and you’re on time, you’re late. Show up early, and you will have a better shot at getting over public speaking fear. (At least you won’t cause yourself more fear, anyway.)

5) Take a Few Deep Breaths.

When our heart rate increases, it causes many public speaking fear symptoms. These symptoms include shortness of breath, queasy stomach, losing your train of thought, dry mouth, and more. Deep breathing from the diaphragm will slow down your racing heart a little. This one thing will reduce a lot of these symptoms.

So, although proper breathing won’t eliminate the fear of public speaking, it can reduce A LOT of the symptoms. When you control your breathing, you control your heart rate.

I encourage my students to find a quiet place just before they go in front of an audience. Take one or two very deep breaths from your diaphragm. This is one of the best relaxation techniques that you can do just before you speak. For the most part, just before you say your first words, your nervousness will be at its peak. So, if you can reduce the symptoms of nervousness at this point, you will have a better shot at getting over your public speaking fear as the speech continues.

6) Look for a Friendly Face.

Remember that, for the most part, the audience is not your enemy. In fact, if you are communicating well, your audience can help you build confidence. When you say something that people in the audience agree with, you will see them nod slightly. This is a positive piece of feedback to let you know that the person that nodded understood your point. This positive feedback tells you that you communicated well.

The more of this feedback that you receive, the more your confidence will grow.

The opposite is true, too, though. Sometimes there are people in your audience who are tougher to convince or who may just not want to be there at all. The more that you focus on these folks, the more uncomfortable you will feel as the speaker. You will begin to question whether or not you are performing well. In the back of your head, you will think, “Oh my God, am I being confusing? Did I do something wrong?” This negative feedback will cause your fear of public speaking to grow.

So, focus on the friendly faces. Graciously receive the positive feedback from your audience. By the way, most often, the tougher cases will come along if you are really communicating effectively. Eventually, they will begin to give you more positive feedback as well.

7) To Look More Confident When You Speak, Start with a Neutral Poised Stance.

If you want to look more poised and confident when you stand up to speak, start with your hands dropped to your side. When we feel threatened, we want to put something between us and the threat. So, if we feel threatened by our audience, we naturally put our hands between them and us. This has two negative consequences.

First, by putting our hands between us and the audience, we are creating a barrier. Our hands become a wall between the speaker and the audience. Second, we also lose a lot of energy. We will gesture fewer times, and the gestures will look mechanical.

Try this experiment. Stand up as if you are speaking in front of a crowd and clasp your hands together. Next, break the clasp and move your right hand up as if you are making a presentation gesture. Do that same gesture over and over, and watch your right elbow. If you are like most people, that gesture will look like you are a robot.

Now, try the same motion again, but this time stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Drop your hands to your side. Now move your right hand to the same spot you did before. You will probably find it hard to move just your right hand. Your gesture will be more powerful and natural looking as well.

So, start with your hands by your side and use your hands more when you speak. These natural gestures will help you communicate better and add more natural energy to your speech.

8) Eliminate Public Speaking Fear by Speaking about Topics in which You are an Expert.

In business presentations, if you are the person speaking, you are, most often, the person in the room who knows the most about that topic. For instance, if you are the project manager, then you’d be the perfect choice to deliver a project report.

However, when we are learning to present, we often choose a topic that we actually don’t know a lot about. For instance, in High School, we had to give book reports. Most people’s first official presentation occurred in front of high school students. (The least most-critical audience on the face of the Earth… That is sarcasm.) Then, our topic was a book… That we never read.

A lot of public speaking fear actually comes from well-meaning teachers or coaches trying to help us be more confident. Negative experiences like this can stick with us for a long time.

The good news is, though, that, in the business world, this cause of public speaking fear fixes itself. I had a friend in college who hated math. When she graduated from school, we lost touch. I met her years later, and I was surprised to find out she was a 4th-grade math teacher.

“I thought you hated math,” I said to her.

She replied back by saying, “Yeah, but to be a good 4th-grade math teacher, I just have to be an expert at 5th-grade math.”

She was right. To get over your fear of public speaking, put yourself in situations where you know more about the topic than anyone else in your audience. You don’t have to be an expert at everything. Just the topic you are presenting.

9) Show Enthusiasm and Energy to Get Over the Fear of Public Speaking.

The energy that you have as a speaker is the most important aspect of your speaking style. Enthusiasm is the most sought-after skill in public speaking. The good news is that fearful speakers also often have a lot of nervous energy. You can use this to your advantage. A lot of people focus on slowing down their rate of speech when they get nervous. This is the worst thing that you can do. Instead, do the opposite. Speak faster.

Using your nervous energy to make your presentation more enthusiastic is a great way to overcome the fear of public speaking. When you finish your presentation, you will get positive feedback from your audience. They will compliment you on your energy. When this happens, you stack up another public speaking success!

Regardless of whether you feel that nervousness, though, you do want to focus on having more energy when you present. If you want your audience to be enthused about your topic, you need to have a little bit more energy when delivering the topic as well.

For additional tips on how to add enthusiasm and energy to a presentation , click here.

10) Practice Your Speech Once or Twice with a Person.

Most people practice their presentations alone. That is a huge mistake. Logically, we believe that we have to practice, practice, practice to get better. And, obviously, we can get lots of practice without any risk of embarrassment if we just practice by ourselves, right?

Well, not exactly. In fact, this process can actually make you more nervous. The big problem here is that you are your own worst critic.

When we practice in front of a mirror or record ourselves on video, we will nitpick every mistake. When we focus on the mistakes and not the effective communication, we make more mistakes.

In addition, we don’t get the feedback that is valuable to make corrections along the way. We know what we meant to say. So, if the communication is unclear, we won’t pick up on it.

However, when we practice with a friend, coworker, or significant other, we do get that feedback. We will see positive nods when we say something that the partner understands. When we say something confusing, we see that confusion in the face of the partner as well. This allows us to make corrections to our presentations so when we present in front of our “real group,” we deliver an even better presentation.

Be careful not to over-practice, or you will fall into the trap of trying to memorize the entire speech. Instead, practice once or twice with a partner, and you will nail your speech!

Want an Easy Way to Implement All of these Ways to Eliminate Public Speaking Fear?

If you really want to get rid of your fear of public speaking, there is a simple solution. This solution works every, single time. The absolute best way to reduce nervousness is to attend the absolute best presentation class . For details about the Fearless Presentation ® course, click the link above or complete the form below!

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How I Overcame My Fear of Public Speaking

5 Quick Tips for Overcoming Fear When Giving a Presentation [VIDEO]

Holy crap, it’s a presentation tips video!! It has been a long time since I made a video showing people how to give a good presentation… Well, there’s no time like the present. This video deals with how to overcome fear when giving a presentation, which is probably one of the most common questions or concerns that people have.

Fear is natural. It is not a bad thing. That being said, I don’t know what kind of past experiences you have had, so if my tips for overcoming fear when giving a presentation are overly simple for you, hopefully, you can find comfort knowing that you’re not alone and that you can overcome your fears. Good luck.

Fear is good

As I just said, fear is natural and it’s also good. Why??

Because fear is your body’s natural defence reflex to unknown, potentially dangerous situations. Fear gets your adrenaline going, it makes you more alert, but it also causes nerves and brings up all sorts of uncomfortable feelings for many people. But that just means you’re normal.

And fear can be overcome. It’s not always simple, but I hope my tips offer a step in the right direction.

Ok, here are my 5 Quick Tips to Overcome the Fear of Giving a Presentation

• Know your audience. Not knowing your audience and what they want causes fear because you won’t be sure if your presentation content is appropriate or not.
• Be prepared. Start preparing as soon as you find out you have to give a presentation. Fear comes from lack of preparation.
• Practice. Give yourself plenty of time to practice your presentation until you’re comfortable with the material. If you feel uneasy, it’s likely because the presentation doesn’t sound natural or it isn’t focused on your audience. Fear can be greater when you haven’t had enough time to practice, but fear can be greatly reduced when you know the material.
• Is the fear rational. This is the big one. Most people are afraid to give a presentation for totally irrational reasons. Of course, some people have deep rooted fears from childhood or other events. But fear of giving a presentation is like being afraid of the dark. It’s pretty irrational since a dark place is exactly the same as when there’s light, but you’re afraid because you can’t see and your mind starts to make things up. Kinda like fear of public speaking. So decide if your fear is rational or not.
• Learn. Give your presentation and get feedback. If you can video your presentation, great! Watch and learn. Improve. Present again. The repeat this process every single time.

Hope that helps. Let me know what you’re afraid of when it comes to giving a presentation.

Great video Carl – and 5 tips in 2 minutes is good going!

Re your 4th point (“Is the fear rational?”), you might like this quick read that I saw recently on the HBR site. It shows a 4-step mindfulness technique that uses the acronym “RAIN”. Hope you find it helpful.

Thanks, Craig!

And great article! That’s pretty powerful stuff. Thanks for sharing.

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Beating Presentation Anxiety: 5 Steps to Speak Confidently

• The Speaker Lab
• April 16, 2024

Table of Contents

Feeling jittery about your next presentation? If so, you’re not alone. Presentation anxiety hits many of us, but it doesn’t have to hold you back. In this article, we’ll dive into what sparks this fear and how it shows up. We’ve got you covered with strategies to prep before your talk, keep cool during the show, and even use tech tools to smooth out those nerves.

If you find that the jitters are negatively impacting your presentations, we have the strategies you need to build confidence. And if you need more help, we’ll point you towards top-notch resources for beating presentation anxiety.

Understanding Presentation Anxiety

Presentation anxiety grips many of us before we step onto the stage. It’s that stomach-churning, sweat-inducing fear of public speaking that can turn even the most prepared speaker into a bundle of nerves. But why does this happen? Let’s break it down.

Common Triggers of Presentation Anxiety

First off, it’s important to know you’re not alone in feeling nervous about presenting. This type of anxiety is incredibly common and stems from various triggers. One major cause is the fear of judgment or negative evaluation by others. No one wants to look foolish or incompetent, especially in front of peers or superiors.

Another trigger is lack of experience. If you haven’t had much practice speaking in public, every presentation might feel like stepping into unknown territory. Then there’s perfectionism; setting impossibly high standards for your performance can make any slight mistake feel disastrous.

How Presentation Anxiety Manifests

The symptoms of presentation anxiety are as varied as they are unpleasant: dry mouth, shaky hands, racing heart—the list goes on. Oftentimes, these physical signs go hand-in-hand with mental ones like blanking out or losing your train of thought mid-sentence. In addition to affecting how you feel physically, anxiety also messes with your confidence levels and self-esteem.

By understanding presentation anxiety better, we realize its grip on us isn’t due to our inability but rather a natural response that can be managed with the right techniques and mindset adjustments.

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Strategies for Managing Presentation Anxiety Before the Event

Feeling jittery before taking the stage is a common plight, but let’s not let those nerves derail our success. Here are some tried and true strategies to help keep your cool.

Planning Like a Pro

Kicking off with solid planning can be your first line of defense against presentation anxiety. Initiate by segmenting your presentation into digestible sections. This could mean outlining main points or scripting it out entirely, depending on what makes you feel most prepared. A good resource that dives deep into effective planning is Toastmasters International , where you’ll find tips on structuring speeches that resonate.

An equally crucial part of planning involves researching your audience. Understanding who will be in front of you helps tailor your message and anticipate questions they might have, making you feel more confident and connected.

The Power of Practice

You’ve heard it before, but practice really does make perfect—or at least significantly less nervous. Running through your presentation multiple times lets you iron out any kinks and get comfortable with the flow of information. For an extra boost, simulate the actual event as closely as possible by practicing in similar attire or using the same technology you’ll have available during the real deal.

If solo rehearsals aren’t cutting it, try roping in a friend or family member to act as an audience. Not only can they offer valuable feedback, they can also help acclimate you to speaking in front of others—a critical step toward easing anxiety.

Breathing Techniques That Work Wonders

Last but definitely not least: don’t underestimate breathing techniques. They have the power to calm nerves fast when practiced regularly leading up to the big day. Headspace offers guided exercises that focus on controlled breathing methods designed specifically for stress management. These practices encourage mindfulness, which can center thoughts away from anxious feelings towards present tasks—like delivering an outstanding presentation. Incorporating these exercises daily can build resilience against last-minute jitters too.

Techniques During the Presentation

Say you’ve practiced your speech a dozen times but you’re still worried about the big day. What should you do then to beat presentation anxiety? Let’s take a look.

Engage with Your Audience

Talking to a room full of people can feel daunting, especially when you don’t know any of them. But remember, your audience is there because they’re interested in what you have to say. Make eye contact, smile, and ask rhetorical questions to keep them hooked. As you speak, don’t forget about the importance of body language since it communicates just as much as your words.

If you think engagement ends at asking questions, think again. Sharing personal stories or relevant anecdotes helps build a connection. It makes your presentation not just informative but also relatable and memorable.

Maintain Composure Under Pressure

If you’re palms are sweating and your heart is racing, know that it’s okay. Feeling your pulse quicken shows you’re invested in nailing that speech, yet it’s crucial not to let these sensations throw you off track. Practice deep breathing exercises before stepping onto the stage to calm those nerves.

Besides deep breathing, adopting power poses backstage can significantly boost your confidence levels. Although it may sound crazy, this is a tip from social psychologists that has helped many speakers take control of their anxiety. Just check out Amy Cuddy’s TED talk on body language to see for yourself.

Facing unexpected tech glitches or interruptions during your speech is par for the course. Stay calm and use humor if appropriate—it shows professionalism and adaptability.

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The Role of Technology in Managing Presentation Anxiety

When giving a presentation, it’s not uncommon for your slides or videos to suddenly turn on you, malfunctioning in some way. However, while technical issues are something to prepare for, they shouldn’t keep you from considering technology an ally against presentation anxiety. Let’s look at some ways that technology can help soothe your public speaking jitters.

Presentation Software Features

Gone are the days when speakers had to rely solely on their memory or paper notes. Modern presentation software not only allows you to create visually appealing slides but also comes with features designed specifically for speaker support. Tools like PowerPoint’s Presenter View or Keynote, give you a behind-the-scenes look at your notes and upcoming slides without showing them to the audience. This lets you stay on track discreetly.

Another gem is interactive polling through platforms such as Mentimeter or Poll Everywhere . Engaging your audience with real-time polls not only keeps them involved but also gives you brief moments to collect your thoughts and breathe.

Stress Management Apps

When it comes to taming those pre-presentation butterflies in your stomach, there’s an app for that too. Meditation apps like Headspace offer quick guided sessions that can be squeezed into any busy schedule. Taking even just five minutes before stepping onstage can significantly calm nerves and improve focus.

Breathing exercises have proven effective in managing stress levels quickly. The beauty of apps like Breathe2Relax , is that they provide structured breathing techniques aimed at reducing anxiety on-the-go. As a result, it’s perfect for those last-minute jitters backstage or right before a webinar starts.

Resources for Further Support

If you’re on a quest to conquer presentation anxiety, you’re not alone. It’s like preparing for a big game; sometimes, you need more than just pep talks. Thankfully, there are plenty of available aids out there to help support you on your journey.

Books That Speak Volumes

Finding the right book can be a lifesaver. “Confessions of a Public Speaker” by Scott Berkun gives an insider look at the highs and lows of public speaking with humor and wisdom. Another gem is “TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking” by Chris Anderson, which pulls back the curtain on what makes talks memorable.

Beyond books, consider immersing yourself in stories of others who’ve walked this path before. A great way to do this is through podcasts or audiobooks focusing on overcoming fears and embracing confidence.

Professional Services: When You Need A Team

Sometimes self-help isn’t enough; maybe what you really need is someone in your corner guiding each step. That’s where expert coaches come in. These mentors can craft plans tailored uniquely to your situation, ensuring you’re equipped for every challenge.

Here at The Speaker Lab you’ll find plenty of resources and help if you’re looking to master the art of public speaking while tackling anxieties head-on.

Together, all these resources have one thing in common: they empower speakers at any stage of their journey towards becoming confident communicators ready to tackle any audience.

FAQs on Overcoming Presentation Anxiety

How do i overcome anxiety when presenting.

Practice your talk, know your stuff, and take deep breaths. Confidence grows with preparation and experience.

Why am I anxious about public speaking?

Fear of judgment or messing up in front of others triggers this anxiety. It’s our brain on high alert.

What is anxiety presentation?

Presentation anxiety is that jittery feeling before speaking publicly. It stems from fear of failure or negative evaluation.

What can I take for presentation anxiety?

Talk to a doctor first but beta-blockers or natural remedies like chamomile tea might help ease the jitters safely.

Feeling nervous before a presentation is common. However overwhelming it might feel, know that mastering this fear is possible. Remember: practice makes perfect. By prepping ahead of time and getting familiar with your content, you can dial down the nerves.

As you’re in the spotlight, make sure to maintain a lively interaction with those watching. This builds confidence on the spot. Tech tools are there for help too. They can streamline your preparation and delivery process significantly.

Don’t be shy about asking for more info if you’re looking for something specific. We’re here to help and make sure you find exactly what you need. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to get out there and nail that presentation!

• Last Updated: April 11, 2024

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How Give a Great Work Presentation and Overcome Fear of Public Speaking

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Giving a great presentation is an excellent way to level up in your career, get noticed by your higher-ups and move towards a promotion or other career goals. The acronym “PRESENT” provides a step-by-step game plan on how to improve your next presentation:

• ​P = Presence
• ​R = Revelation
• ​E = Energy
• ​S = Service
• ​E = Engaging
• ​N = Novelty
• ​T = Truth-Giving

This is how you show up when you speak. Your presence on stage (or in the boardroom, classroom, etc.) will be different from how you show up at a casual coffee meeting. Presence has two parts:

• ​How you physically show up. Where you stand, what you do with your hands, your posture—all these things make a difference to your audience. Your physical presence shows you to be confident and authoritative.
• ​What you have to say. A strong presence is also about saying something insightful and unique so that your audience will be engaged and learn something new.

Developing your stage presence starts with self-awareness, bringing to your own attention how you respond and how you are functioning in your relationship to those around you relative to your career objectives. Self-awareness is an important part of the pursuit of what is truly important to you because it guides your perceptions, intentions and responses to your own behavior. We often are so concerned with the audience and how other people are perceiving us. This concern directs thinking towards things that are completely outside of control, which is disempowering. The pursuit of this is futile. Instead, knowing what is truly your highest priority and filling your days with inspired actions will enhance your confidence, resilience and your ability to exude executive presence.

Your greatest asset while on stage are the people in the room. This is not just a solo presentation to yourself, but you are speaking to a group of people who want to hear from you. You are presenting for a reason—you have something to say! The moment you reveal something to your audience in accordance with what is highest on their values, they will listen to you, engage with you, and remember you.

Energy can be hard to define because it’s not tangible. It’s a mood and feeling that you possess and can transfer to the people in the room as you communicate with them. Here are a few types of energy you want to bring in the room:

• ​Learning energy. Education is transformative, so you want to bring that kind of learning energy into the room and bring knowledge.
• ​Fun energy. This can happen even in a formal presentation! This is about your enthusiasm and excitement to be there and share with them.
• ​Safe energy. This helps create a connection with the audience, where they can be authentic and ask questions. This will ensure that no one feels left out in the room.
• ​Buying energy. At the end of your presentation, there is some call to action—which is a prompt to the audience to take some specified action. It could be to make a certain decision or sign a document. Bring a buying energy that motivates the listeners into action.

Focus on what your audience is going to get out of your presentation. It’s not about you and your expertise or image, but it’s about your audience . Instead of focusing on yourself, be in service to others and focus on giving your audience what they need. Go into your presentation with the mindset that this is for the benefit of your audience, not for your own personal benefit.

No one learns when they are bored. We’ve all sat through boring presentations and know this to be true! So, don’t make it just a one-way presentation, but invite participation from the audience. The best way to invite participation is to ask them questions. Questions are your answers, which can tell you important information about their values and what revelation they need to get to the “yes”. This makes it engaging for your audience and increases the likelihood that they will remember what you’ve taught them. Engaging presentations also feed into the “buying energy.” Your audience is more likely to follow through with the action steps you need if they are engaged.

The definition of novelty is something “new.” This plays off of the last point—to engage your audience, you need to bring them something novel. There are two ways to do this:

• ​Teach them something new that they haven’t learned before.
• ​Provide a new angle or perspective on a familiar topic.

By giving novel and interesting information, you will capture your audience’s attention. It also shows respect for their expertise and intelligence, as you are not wasting their time on something they already know.

Truth-Giving

To effectively serve your audience, you need to ground yourself in the truth. We live in a society where it’s challenging to know who is being truthful and authentic. Build trust between you and your audience by speaking the truth consistently. The truth is game-changing. It allows you to make a real impact on your audience and in your work. It allows you to go deeper into an issue, topic, or idea and builds trust. When you focus on speaking the truth, there’s no performance to make since the truth is authentic and it doesn’t require a consensus. The authenticity of speaking the truth will be more impactful than a carefully constructed performance that’s based on an ambiguous goal to “say the right thing”. Implementing these steps will not necessarily eliminate all your fear around giving a presentation. But what they can do is provide a step-by-step guide to follow. You can give a great presentation despite your fear. And as you continue to give successful presentations, your confidence and ability will continue to grow. If you are interested in more material about career growth, communication skills, and critical thinking for career professionals, subscribe to my YouTube channel or connect with me on LinkedIn . If you are committed to purpose-driven growth in your communication and career, apply HERE for an opportunity to work with me. With gratitude from your #1 fan, Grace

 © Mastery Insights Inc.  All Rights Reserved

© mastery insights inc. all rights reserved.

• For General Anxiety
• For Panic Attacks
• For Fears and Phobias

Presentation Anxiety: How to Overcome Stage Fright (Complete Guide)

Tyler Ellis

Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, is thought to affect as much as 75% of the population. For both students and professionals alike, this phobia tends to take the form of presentation anxiety. So, how can we overcome stage fright and presentation anxiety once and for all?

While avoiding presentations may bring some short-term relief to your anxiety, this will worsen your stage fright in the long-run. To overcome presentation anxiety long-term, presentation tools and gradual practice are the most effective solutions.

Maybe, right now, you’re extremely anxious about a presentation coming up. Maybe the only thought racing through your mind is how in the world am I going to get out of giving this presentation?

No worries. This guide is going to cover everything – and I mean everything – you’ll need to know. Make sure not to skip the section on “alternative ways of presenting,” I think you’ll find those really useful!

No need to stress; let’s get right into this.

What Causes Presentation Anxiety?

First things first… why do we feel presentation anxiety in the first place?

Sure, we might expect our heart to pound and breathing to accelerate as we walk along the edge of a cliff – but during a presentation? What part of talking about George Washington Carver inventing peanut butter should cause our hands to tremble and our voice to stutter?

Well, as it turns out, presentation anxiety is caused by ancient mechanisms in our brain responsible for our survival. For anxious people, our brain perceives being the center of attention in large group to be a threat. This triggers the “fight or flight” response, causing us to panic as we try and escape our uncomfortable setting.

Obviously, we are in no real danger while giving a class presentation or work presentation. Many years of evolution, however, have trained us to avoid stage fright with a passion. In ancient times, being surround by a (potentially angry) mob could have fatal consequences; as could being humiliated, rejected, or otherwise cast out from the tribe.

For many of us – especially those of us prone to social anxiety – such fears have stuck with us since caveman times. It’s important we remember these fears are harmless. Just being aware of their nature can help with this process. Despite what your brain and body may be telling you, these feelings of anxiety are not dangerous; they are going to pass.

Feel free to check out this article for a better understanding of the evolutionary psychology behind anxiety .

How to Get Out of a Presentation

I recommend against avoidance in most cases, as it only reinforces our anxiety in the long-run.

However, I know what it’s like to be a student with presentation anxiety.

I know how hard it is juggling academics, a social life, relationships, and newly blossoming anxieties all at once. I know that it can get so bad the most logical option feels like dropping out of school altogether. I don’t want you to feel like you have to do that.

So, if you’re really just not ready to overcome your stage fright:

• Intentionally Choose Classes That Don’t Require Presentations
• Tell the Teacher or Professor About What You’re Going Through
• Ask the Teacher or Professor for Alternative Assignments
• For Group Presentations, Ask Someone Else to Take the Lead
• Present Your Assignment in an Alternative Format Using Presentation Tools and Software (more on this in a bit)

If this seems a bit vague, it’s only because I’ve actually dedicated an entire article to this topic already. Check out this piece on how to get out of giving a presentation in class for more help with this.

Like I said, ultimately, avoidance is a poor strategy. However, I believe it’s just as detrimental to be “forced” into facing our fears before we are mentally prepared to do so. Having been there myself, I want you to be able to rest easy knowing that you do have some options here.

For this guide, however, I want to focus more on how to actually overcome presentation anxiety and stage fright.

My secret is – believe it or not – I get incredibly nervous before public speaking, no matter how big the crowd or the audience and, um, despite the fact that I laugh and joke all the time I get incredibly nervous, if not anxious, actually, before going into rooms full of people when I'm wearing a suit... And now that I've confessed that, I'll probably be even more worried that people are looking at me.

Prince Harry - Duke of Sussex, Member of the British Royal Family

How to Stop a Panic Attack While Presenting in Class

When I first started having panic attacks, I had no idea what they were or why they were happening. Prior to my first panic attack, I had never had an issue with public speaking or presentation anxiety at all. In fact, I had voluntarily participated in several clubs and activities that required public speaking.

Yet, when my first few panic attacks started (I was around 16 at the time), they would occur in any random situation. Wherever they occurred, I'd quickly develop a phobia associated with that location or situation. One such random panic attack occurred – you guessed it – during a class presentation.

While this experience was terrifying, embarrassing, and extremely uncomfortable, I had – fortunately – managed to keep it together enough for most people not to notice. For the many class presentations that would follow, however, I had to develop some tricks to stop panic attacks while presenting in class.

Here’s what worked for me:

• Volunteer to go first. This may seem strange, but I always felt it easier to volunteer first and get it out of the way. Oftentimes, it’s easier to deal with presentation anxiety when we don’t feel cornered. By choosing to do it yourself, you maintain some control of the situation and get the jump on things before anticipation anxiety kicks in .
• Remember you are not going to die. This is just a panic attack, and it’s going to pass. It may be uncomfortable, but it will be over within a few moments.
• Take control of your breathing. 478 breathing is a simple technique that works. Simply breathe in for 4 seconds through the nose, hold for 7 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds through the mouth.
• Find a focus object. Choose a point, or several points, to focus on in the room. This could be a ceiling tile, a lightbulb, a pile of books, anything. Whenever your thoughts start to wander or spiral out of control, recenter your thoughts on that focus object.
• Try and remember the other times you’ve given a class presentation with anxiety. Chances are, this isn’t your first time. Remember those past successes and visualize this presentation as one where you overcome stage fright as well. If your mind is drawn to a time when it didn’t go so well, at least remind yourself that it passed and you survived it; just as you’ll survive this one.
• If you have a friend in the class, look to them from time to time. Flash them a smile or a wink, and try not to laugh out loud while you’re up there. This may seem silly, but I’d rather stifle a laugh than grapple a panic attack.
• Remember that no one’s really paying attention. Just as you were sitting at your desk nervously thinking about your own turn to present, most people are doing the exact same now. And even if they’re not anxious, they’re probably zoned out or drifting off; it’s quite difficult to keep an involuntary crowd’s attention. Trust me, they’re probably not thinking about you much.

These are just a few ways to stop a panic attack while presenting in class. Of course, just about any method for stopping panic attacks can work well here, so feel free to explore our site a bit to learn some other methods.

There are only two types of speakers in the world:

1. The nervous

Mark Twain - American humorist, novelist, and travel writer

Alternative Ways of Presenting to Help Overcome Stage Fright

If you take nothing else from this article, I believe that this is the section that can help anxious students and professionals with stage fright the most. When I was dealing with presentation anxiety myself, most of these options didn’t even exist. If you’re anxious about standing in front of class and presenting, any of these could be fantastic alternatives to presenting.

Basically, any of these presentation software tools can help you to quickly create a visually stunning presentation; all without having to speak in front of the class. They utilize audio, video, and/or animation to create informative videos that get the point across even more effectively than conventional presentations.

For the most part, all a teacher or boss really cares about is that you: 

• Put hard work and dedication into your assignment
• Learned something throughout the process
• Are able to communicate what you learned to educate your peers

Telling the teacher “Sorry, I just can’t present today,” won’t meet any of these points, and is likely to land you a failed grade.

Instead, ask your teacher if you can use one of these presentation tools to create an even more engaging and informative presentation. This way, it’ll seem like you’ve put in the most effort in the class, rather than the least; all without having to speak in front of the class.

Here are the automated presentation tools I currently use myself and recommend:

I go into much greater detail on these tools here: automated presentation software . Before buying anything, I strongly suggest giving that article a read. Otherwise, Toonly and Doodly are my top picks.

What is the Best Presentation Anxiety Medication for Stage Fright?

Giving a presentation in high school or college can be extremely stressful for many people. If standing in front of the class feels like an impossible task, you may be wondering about presentation anxiety medication. So… what are the best drugs for presentation anxiety?

Since I’m not a doctor, I can only offer you a friendly opinion here.

In general, I think it’s a good idea to steer clear of anti-anxiety medication whenever it isn’t absolutely necessary. If your doctor prescribes you presentation anxiety medication, so be it. In the long-run, however, this can often create cycles of reliance and dependence that are best avoided.

But what about taking an over-the-counter supplement for anxiety before a presentation?

I have personally found one supplement to help me relax and communicate more confidently. This is my favorite supplement for stage fright, as it has helped me tremendously in situations where I would normally feel a bit socially anxious. I’ve used this supplement for presentations, job interviews, and even first dates.

My favorite supplement for presentation anxiety symptoms is phenibut. It just helps me feel significantly calmer while simultaneously boosting my sociability and confidence. This supplement is extremely affordable and legally sold online in most countries. If you want to learn a bit more about it, I have an article going into greater depth about phenibut here.

I do urge responsibility when using phenibut, as you don’t want to become reliant on it. But if it makes the difference between shirking your presentation vs. delivering a great one, I highly recommend it.

Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning

Winston Churchill - Former Prime Minister of the UK, Famous Orator

Tips for How to Present a Project Effectively

Few things help to eliminate anticipation anxiety like truly preparing for the situation. If your fears are rooted in delivering a poor or ineffective presentation, take some time to prepare.

Here are some tips for how to present a project effectively:

How to Overcome Stage Fright and Presentation Anxiety

There are many strategies we can take when dealing with our presentation anxiety or stage fright. Here are three of the most common strategies:

• Complete Avoidance – Post-college, public speaking occasions like presentations are pretty few and far between. As an adult, it isn’t too difficult to avoid presentations, although not overcoming stage fright can be a hinderance in many career fields.
• Reluctant and Occasional – Here’s where most people in the world probably fall. Most of us aren’t 100% comfortable with presenting, yet we suck it up and get it done when we have to. This isn’t a bad place to be, although it's uncomfortable occasionally.
• Conquering Presentation Anxiety – Some brave souls will choose to completely crush their fear of public speaking, overcoming stage fright and glossophobia entirely. This path is not for the faint of heart, as it isn’t easy; however, it has the largest payoff in the end with regard to career and confidence.

We’ve already discussed strategies for the first two earlier in this guide. Let’s now focus on the third.

How can we overcome presentation anxiety and glossophobia?

Well, whenever we want to eliminate a fear or phobia long-term, the best way to do so is through exposure therapy. We do have a full article on how to extinguish fears through exposure therapy if you’re curious to really understand this process.

For now, I’ll fill you in on the basics:

By gradually stepping outside of our comfort zone and exposing ourselves to our fears, we can eliminate those fears over time. The key here is that we are stepping a bit outside our comfort zone, but not immersing ourselves so fully to induce panic. In other words: challenge yourself at a fair pace.  

So how do we apply this to overcome presentation anxiety and stage fright?

My suggestion would be to identify the smallest voluntary step you can take outside of your comfort zone without panicking. Perhaps presenting may induce a panic attack, but are you at least able to read aloud from your seat? Perhaps reading aloud is difficult, but could you at least volunteer an answer from time to time?

This process will be as unique as a fingerprint for each person, as we all have different comfort zones and stressors. Try and find where your comfort zone ends and take small steps just outside of it. With repeated practice, you’ll notice your comfort zone expanding as you become more confident with the activity.

In general, here are some opportunities you may find useful for stepping outside of your comfort zone:

• Start raising your hand more often to ask or answer questions
• Volunteer to read aloud or answer a problem on the board whenever you’re feeling confident
• Create a presentation using presentation software (recommendations above), but see if you can actually get through it without relying on the audio. If you get too nervous, you can use it
• Rather than trying to get out of a presentation, ask your groupmates if you could take a lesser role with speaking; perhaps you could do more of the research to make up for it
• Seek out your local Toastmasters group to practice public speaking away from the pressures of your own social circles
• Try and attend small open mic nights and similar opportunities to gain experience with public speaking

Fun Fact: I successfully avoided presentations for the majority of my high school and college career. Afterward, I wound up working several jobs that forced me to confront this fear. First came a sales job, and next came a job that required me to speak in front of 150-200 people multiple times per day.

Turns out, I liked money more than I disliked public speaking.

List of Famous People with Public Speaking Anxiety

Sometimes a bit of solidarity goes a long way. Here’s a list of famous/successful people who have long been known to have suffered from public speaking anxiety:

• Winston Churchill
• Mahatma Gandhi
• Abraham Lincoln
• Prince Harry
• Warren Buffet
• Mark Zuckerberg
• Sigmund Freud
• Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Tiger Woods
• Rowan Atkinson
• Jackie Chan
• Thomas Jefferson
• Margaret Thatcher
• Princess Diana
• Eleanor Roosevelt
• Sir Richard Branson

As you can see… we’ve got some big names up there. And this is just a very small list of successful people who have been open about their public speaking anxiety – to say nothing of the silent majority!

Never forget, you’re far from alone in experiencing this – you can absolutely overcome presentation anxiety, stage fright, and glossophobia if you wish to!

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Overcoming Stage Fright Before Presentations: 7 Helpful Tips and Tricks

Stage fright, sweaty palms, and a queasy stomach. According to studies, this is normal for around 80 percent of people before a presentation. Nearly everyone who gives a talk knows the feeling of uncertainty. We imagine all the things that could go wrong and feel increasingly uncomfortable as the deadline approaches.

But what if this nervousness before each new presentation becomes even greater? In this article, we will show you the various ways to deal with stage fright and overcome it.

What is Stage Fright?

The term “stage fright” originally comes from French and is derived from the term “fièvre de la scène,” which translates to “stage fever” in English. Stage fright refers to the tension and nervousness before a presentation, a public appearance, or even job interviews. Especially when we perform in front of unfamiliar people, we fear embarrassing ourselves and making mistakes.

For instance, when we talk to friends, we are likely not nervous. We know the person we are speaking to and feel comfortable in their presence. However, as soon as we approach a stranger on the street or engage in a conversation with someone unknown, many of us start feeling uncomfortable. The larger the crowd of strangers, the stronger stage fright often becomes.

In reality, stage fright is nothing but acute stress . It manifests through signals like a racing heart, blushing, and heat, and mentally through signals like irritability and forgetfulness. While some people experience a certain level of stage fright as positive and motivating, many others struggle with it and feel inhibited.

Why Do We Experience Stage Fright Before Presentations?

The brain is a wonderful thing. It works up until the moment you have to stand up and speak in public Mark Twain

Who doesn’t know this feeling? You’ve gone through your presentation several times and you know everything about the topic. But then the moment of the presentation arrives, and suddenly your nerves are on edge, and all the information in your brain seems to have disappeared.

This usually happens because we fear embarrassing ourselves on stage, or while speaking, by making mistakes. Yet, mistakes are human and happen to everyone at some point. The reason we have such fear is that errors are consistently punished in our society . This could be in school, at university, or at home, which now leads us to fear making mistakes on stage, for which we might be penalized.

Even Professionals Experience Stage Fright

Although many people think that stage fright is related to being an amateur, this is a common misconception. Even many famous or experienced individuals struggle with stage fright. It helps many beginners and those struggling with speaking anxiety to know that even people in the limelight experience this.

Joaquín Phoenix, winner of the Golden Globe and nominated for two Oscars, once said that despite being in the spotlight for 30 years, he still gets as nervous every time as if it were his first public appearance. Knowing that even globally recognized personalities deal with stage fright shows that no one is alone in this, and even the best speakers are plagued by it.

What Causes the Fear of Presentations?

How nervous and anxious we are before speeches or performances varies individually and has different causes. Many individuals have high standards for themselves and are very self-critical . If it’s difficult for one to be satisfied with their own performance, stage fright and nervousness increase.

Often, it then becomes challenging to focus on the important aspects of a presentation. These include questions like what you want to achieve with your speech and what you want to convey to your audience. Moreover, if you have high standards for yourself, consider in advance what needs to happen for you to be satisfied with your speech. Set realistic goals that you can achieve.

Learn more about how to define successful goals for a presentation in our blog “ Define Goals for Presentations “.

Cause #1: Negative Experiences

Almost everyone can recall instances where they were in the spotlight and felt a strong sense of inner restlessness or nervousness. As if that weren’t enough, you now have memories in your head , such as other people laughing at you, which continue to haunt you to this day.

Such moments are stored in our minds as embarrassments. They are reliably guarded by our memory to share with us in the most inconvenient moments. Especially before a presentation, these memories resurface, and out of fear that such a scenario might repeat itself, stage fright develops.

Cause #2: Lack of Practice

Another reason for stage fright might be that you simply haven’t had many opportunities to be on stage or give presentations. Because: T he more experienced you are in a field, the more confidence you have in your own abilities. The more presentations you give, the more you develop a sense for various aspects.

For example, you can better estimate how your voice sounds when you speak for a longer period. Or how many steps you can take on stage without seeming fidgety. Learn how to present confidently with the right speaking techniques here.

Therefore, seize every opportunity presented to improve your skills . Because here too, practice makes perfect!

Did You Know? Stage Fright Can Be Beneficial Too

Many people who suffer from stage fright wish they could just switch it off. Little do they know that the energy contained in stage fright can be put to valuable use . For this reason, resisting it is not advisable.

Transform the Energy of Your Fear

Especially if you suffer greatly from stage fright, it’s important to realize that you feel the stage fright more intensely than your audience does. Often, your fear is not visible from the outside or at least not as strong as you imagine it to be. However, what remains visible to the listeners are reactions to fear. For example, a rigid facial expression and frenetic movements, or shallow breathing.

Breathing plays a significant role in stage fright. When we feel fear or even panic, we tend to breathe just enough to avoid fainting. However, this keeps us stuck in the feeling of fear. To release this blockage, it’s important to breathe deeper and longer, allowing the energy to flow again. This is one of the reasons why stage fright improves after a few minutes of speaking and you get into the flow of the presentation.

Stage Fright or Speech Anxiety?

Stage fright, as mentioned earlier, is something quite normal and can even be useful. Even experienced speakers sometimes struggle with it and are accompanied by nervousness and tension during public appearances. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. The body releases adrenaline during stage fright, and because you are focusing solely on the present situation, your concentration and attention increase.

Speech anxiety, on the other hand, also known as logophobia , belongs to social anxieties . The fear associated with it is based on the fear of embarrassment, rejection, and failure. As presenters, we don’t want anyone to notice that we’re afraid, which in turn amplifies the fear. The same mental scenario repeats in our heads. We convince ourselves that we will embarrass ourselves and be laughed at.

Speech anxiety: What fears trigger it before presentations?

The so-called logophobia regularly induces panic in speakers. But what fears does it actually trigger?

• The fear of being in the spotlight

Particularly shy individuals dislike the idea of being in the spotlight and the center of attention. The feeling of being observed by everyone present can trigger anxiety and make one hesitant while giving the presentation.

• The fear of failure

Those who suffer from speech anxiety often worry about how the presentation will be received by the audience. The thought of embarrassing themselves in front of the listeners leads to intense feelings of shame even before the presentation starts. People with speech anxiety might even prefer not to step onto the stage at all.

Overcoming the Fear of Presentations: Proper Preparation Helps

To learn how to manage your stage fright, it’s helpful to prepare adequately for the presentation. Although there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for stage fright, there are still some helpful preparation tips that we’ll present to you below:

• Practice and Rehearsals: If you’re preparing for a presentation or speech that needs to be well-prepared, it’s important to rehearse it multiple times beforehand. To build confidence, it’s also recommended to practice in front of an audience. For this, family and friends from your circle are a good option.
• Visualize Success: Imagine how fulfilling it will be to complete your presentation confidently and calmly. This method, originating from elite sports, is a popular way to boost courage before a competition.
• Self-Observation: Take stock and consider, for example, the positive or negative experiences you’ve had with stage fright. Also, think about which appearances you found positive. It’s important not to focus on traumatic experiences but rather to reflect on what you’re good at and what experiences you’ve had where you might have had your stage fright under control.
• Practice Makes Perfect! This proverb isn’t just true for presentations. Even more self-assured behavior can be trained. Use opportunities to speak in front of others to bring routine to your presentations and reduce your fear.

Overcoming Stage Fright and Speech Anxiety Before Presentations: 7 Helpful Tips and Tricks

Even if you prepare in advance and try to overcome your stage fright, you might still be plagued by stage fright or speech anxiety right before a presentation. With the following tips, you can relax and present confidently just before your speech.

• Deep Breathing and Relaxation As simple as this trick may sound, using the right breathing technique can help manage your nervousness. When you feel your heart rate increase and your breathing become erratic, try to calm your breathing rhythm. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth several times . Focus on your breathing flow and feel your lungs filling with air.
• Break the Ice The introduction to your presentation and the first impression you leave on the audience are crucia l. Build a connection with your listeners and greet them. If you feel comfortable, you can break the ice with a bit of small talk , like making a positive remark about the venue or commenting on the weather. This way, you’ll quickly stop feeling like you’re facing enemies and realize that there are friendly individuals in your audience.
• Everyone Likes You Imagine that every person in your audience likes you. This thought isn’t entirely far-fetched, as you’ve been invited because people want to hear your insights on a specific topic . Focus on the ideas you want to convey, what your audience wants to hear, and how you can inspire them with your concepts. Learn more about tailoring your content to your audience’s needs.
• Your Fear is Invisible We often imagine that every slight sign of our insecurity is noticeable to the audience. This leads to standing rigidly in one place, pressing our hands against our upper body, and fearing the worst. However, even if we assume that shaky knees or a trembling voice are glaringly obvious, the audience usually focuses solely on the presentation and what you’re saying. Additionally, physical signs of nervousness tend to disappear after a few minutes of focusing on the speech.
• Take a Walk Although this tip may not seem extraordinary at first glance, stepping outside for fresh air can clear your mind . If you leave your phone behind, you can concentrate on the fresh air and effectively reduce stress hormones through physical activity.
• Don’t Take Your Negative Thoughts Too Seriously It’s easy to imagine all the things that could go wrong before a presentation. Our brains get particularly creative here: we envision ourselves being embarrassed on stage, having a panic attack, or speaking complete nonsense. As creative as this might be, it’s not helpful, and these thoughts harm us more than they help. While it would be nice to simply turn off these thoughts, it’s not that straightforward . As an alternative, it often suffices not to take these thoughts too seriously and to realize that they don’t reflect the truth. By doing so, we accept these thoughts while also relaxing better before the next presentation.
• Listen to Music Similar to taking a walk, listening to music can help reduce stress. With our favorite tunes in our ears, we can escape from our script and the impending presentation for 15 minutes, which can work wonders. Music can also be combined with a walk to work wonders in helping us relax.

Getting Long-Term Control Over Stage Fright

Especially for shy and introverted individuals, it can happen that stage fright worsens over time. This can occur because the fear of stage fright leads to avoiding situations where stage fright might occur. To prevent it from getting that far, it can be helpful to develop relaxation or breathing techniques, as well as rituals , that you can go through before a presentation. This way, you can calm yourself down and relax before public appearances.

If your stage fright is so severe that it causes panic states and depression, it’s advisable to talk to a therapist about it. Talk therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy can be helpful in getting a grip on the anxiety.

Conclusion: Take Our Tips to Heart and Overcome Your Stage Fright and Speech Anxiety

Speech anxiety can limit you both in your professional and private life, holding you back from achieving your goals. However, anyone who truly wants to can overcome stage fright and speech anxiety!

And if you make a mistake despite everything, stay calm and handle it skillfully. You can read more about this our article “ How to handle mistakes in presentations “.

Take our tips from this article to heart and don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected] for further questions.

Looking for visually supportive and professionally designed slide templates? Browse our shop. We have numerous slides available for download covering various (business) topics. Check it out today! ► Visit the Shop

Here are some more articles you might find interesting:

• Ending Presentations: 20 Ideas for a Successful Conclusion!
• Preparing PowerPoint Presentations: 11 Tips for a Guaranteed Successful Presentation
• Defining Goals for Your Presentations
• Speaking Techniques for Your Speech
• Handling Presentation Mistakes with Confidence

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Presentation Skills Top Tips to Overcome Fear

“No, no! Please don’t ask me to make a presentation.”

“I can’t do it – I get too scared – I’ll faint – I won’t be able to breathe.”

Presentation Fear – Nervousness – Fright – Panic

“No, no! Please don’t ask me to make a presentation. I can’t do it I get too scared I’ll faint I won’t be able to breathe.”

Now, maybe you don’t have this extreme fright reaction when you’re asked to present, but perhaps your initial reaction is like a rabbit in the headlights and you mentally leap to how to avoid it or why you’re the wrong person or just how awful you’re going to feel.

And what if you make a mess of it?

Irrational fear of failure seems like an appropriate response !

All common responses; all completely understandable.

Overcoming Presentation Fear

Why they’re understandable is that for most people standing in front of a group of people or sitting around a table presenting is unnatural, exposing, awkward, and utterly nerve-wracking. It’s also why things like daises and PowerPoint and iPads are used so extensively – because they’re something to hide behind.

For a lot of people, they think there’s nothing they can do but endure and get through it.

If you’re one of those people, here are some things you can do before you make your next presentation and of course, when you’re actually in front of an audience.

Before Making Any Presentation

Do your homework.

Too often I’ve seen people who felt they were too busy to prepare. I cannot emphasise enough just how important it is to be well-prepared to present . You don’t have to know every nuance of your material but you have to know enough to be able to reassure people you know what you’re talking about and how to direct people to learn more.

Someone Else’s Slide Deck

If you are expected to present someone else’s slide deck , then make enough notes in your own voice so when you present it sounds like you, rather than presenting something that doesn’t quite fit.

Avoid Trying to Wing It

Even if you’re well-prepared, you still need to rehearse and rehearse again. And again. If you use PowerPoint , then you absolutely have to learn how to make it work for you.

Visit the Space

Nothing eases presentation fear like really knowing the arena you’ll be presenting in.

Sometimes that may not be possible, but when it is, have a walk around the space, sit at the table, and get a feel for the room’s vibes. Walking into an unknown place can be very unnerving, so getting to know it ahead of time will serve you very well.

Make the Space Your Own

Not only is it important to get a feel for the space, but it’s also good to put your own stamp on it, even if all that means is shifting some chairs, moving a table, leaving brochures for people to take – really anything that shows you are connected to the space. For your audience, on an unconscious level, the more you own the space , the more credibility it gives you.

During the Presentation

That seems pretty obvious, but when your nerves are on over-drive, your breathing tends to be shallow which in turn can make you feel as though you aren’t getting enough oxygen. Before you start it really helps to take three or four deep slow breaths (note: if you take fast breaths you could well become dizzy and light-headed).

Jump Around

Not on stage but beforehand you could jump up and down a few times or if that’s not possible, do some stretches. Even if you are sitting, you can still stretch your arms above your head, turn your head slowly from side to side, shrug your shoulders; pretty much anything that will get you settled into your body.

Take Your Time

When presentation fear really kicks in, it’s easy to rush. By slowing things down right at the beginning, you will come across as thoughtful and considered. If this is indeed the first time in the space if there’s any furniture or props (a dais, a table, a carafe of water, a computer or tablet, etc.) move them, handle them, place them where you want them.

Questions From the Floor

If you don’t know the answer, be brave and say you don’t know . People respect your honesty far more than flannel or bluster.

Eye Contact

Again, when your nerves are strung as taut as they can stretch, it’s easy to stay buried in your notes or keep your eyes focused on your slides. Making eye contact with at least a few members of your audience is a good way to settle some of those nerves. Seek out a couple of friendly faces and return to them throughout the presentation.

Sips of water

Think of taking sips of water as mini-breaks where you can gather your thoughts, look at your audience and move a bit. Moving around is really important if you find yourself becoming rooted to the spot. Not only will it help you breathe better, but it will also get your blood moving as well.

Enjoy yourself??

Believe it or not, once your nerves are under manageable control, presenting can be an exciting , energising, and engaging way to communicate with others.

Follow even just a few of these tips and you’ll feel a lot more like the king of the jungle than that poor, frightened rabbit.

By Jo Ellen Grzyb , Director, Impact Factory

Check out Impact Factory’s range of Presentation Skills courses:

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Top 5 Presentation Fears and How to Overcome Them

October 31, 2014 / Blog presentation delivery, presentation fears, presentation tips, public speaking anxiety

For a majority of Americans, a true horror story doesn’t involve the dead coming back to life. What really scares 76% of the population is far simpler. It’s a situation that regularly occurs in the world of business. In this scenario, there are no zombies or vampires. There’s only an empty stage with an audience looking on.

In lists ranking people’s phobias , the fear of public speaking constantly appears on top. It even outranks the fear of death, which usually appears at number two. Isn’t it odd that we find the idea of facing an audience even more daunting than death? Jerry Seinfeld  made a comic observation about it:

I read a thing that actually says that speaking in front of a crowd is considered the number one fear of the average person. I found that amazing – number two was death! That means to the average person if you have to be at a funeral, you would rather be in the casket than doing the eulogy.

So what leads to this heightened response over something that is so integral to our professional lives? Why are people so anxious about sharing their ideas to an audience? What are the presentation fears we need to overcome?

Presentation Fears: What are we afraid of?

As a psychiatrist, Dr. Judith E. Pearson works to help people move past their phobias. In her sessions she discovered three major presentation fears:

• Being the center of attention
• Making a mistake in front of others 
• Repeating mistakes from previous presentations 

Another public speaking coach, Gary Genard , adds a few more factors to the list. According to his experience, presentation fears stem from the following:

• Feeling dissatisfied with one’s presentation skills
• Comparing one’s self to other speakers 

‘Re-frame and Regain’: Overcoming presentation fears

According to Dr. Pearson, the best way to overcome your presentation fears is to approach them in a different light. We often get too involved in our fears that it soon becomes the only thing we can worry about. By re-framing the way you handle the situation, you can use your presentation fears as motivation.

Here’s how you can re-frame the 5 presentation fears listed above. Regain your confidence with the following techniques:

It’s not about you

A lot of the most common presentation fears stem from self-consciousness. If your anxiety stems from being the center of attention or how you compare to other speakers, it’s because you’re worried about how the audience perceives you. Are they scrutinizing the way you move and speak? Will they judge you if you make a mistake? Would they rather hear someone else talk about this topic? You get nervous because you worry about what they  might be thinking of you.

To solve this problem, you need to stop thinking of what you might be doing wrong. Instead, you need to focus on your goals. What is your presentation about? Why are you delivering it in the first place? What do you want to accomplish by the end of it?

And just like you, the audience is there to accomplish their own goals. They want to hear the information you’re about to share. If you really want to please them, focus on delivering your core message efficiently. As Dr. Pearson puts it, “stop thinking like a victim in front of a firing squad and start thinking like someone who has something worthwhile to say to people who want to hear it.”

Mistakes are unavoidable

Presentation fears can also stem from past experiences. If a crucial misstep derailed a previous presentation, it’s normal to worry that the same thing will happen again. As Genard puts it, “public speaking anxiety is often learned behavior.” But even so, it doesn’t have to be permanent.

Accept that some situations are out of your control and mistakes are inevitable. Instead of obsessing over the mistakes you committed in the past, think of how that experience can help improve your skills.

Practice makes perfect

It might sound cliche, but the best antidote to your presentation fears is sufficient preparation. Take the time to practice your skills and prepare your presentation. Familiarize yourself with all your points and arguments. Give yourself enough time to prepare great visuals. Most importantly, practice your skills even without a presentation coming up. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel about facing a crowd to share your point of view.

READ MORE: 

• Reframing Three Major Fears About Public Speaking – Toastmasters International
• 10 Causes of Speech Anxiety that Create Fear of Public Speaking – The Genard Method
• Public Speaking Anxiety: Facts, Stats, and Methods to Beat It

Featured Image:  Pablo  via Flickr

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