Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking

Insights from my time behind the podium and world-famous speakers

Someone asked me to speak to their small group about a month ago. I delivered the short talk last night. Sure, I was nervous but more excited than anything else because I love public speaking. But it wasn’t always that way.

My first boss, Russ Dazzio, was one of my early heroes. I’ll never forget the day he asked me to deliver my first speech to a large group. It was 1983, and I had just graduated college, but I looked like I was 15.

Terror gripped me leading up to that speech. It wasn’t the size of the group that haunted me. My boss made me rent a leprechaun costume to suit the event, which was for St. Patrick’s Day.

Even though I did my best to talk my boss out of wearing a costume, arguing with his reality was futile. Plus, I needed the job to buy an engagement ring for my girlfriend, so I did the best I could and nailed it. 

I’m not sure it was my talent as much as the stupid costume, but I’ll never forget the electrifying feeling of making a large crowd laugh. Since then, I have loved public speaking and the coaching I do, helping others overcome their fears.

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” — Oscar Wilde

You’re Not Alone When Facing Your Fear

Public speaking is one of the most universal fears, often ranked alongside the fear of death itself. But the truth is that there are proven ways to master the art of public speaking. 

Cultivating the right mindset is the key to success as a public speaker, team leader, or meeting facilitator. If you don’t take charge of your mind, nobody will. We’ll get to that part shortly.

In addition to mindset, you’ll need to understand actionable strategies for overcoming the fear of public speaking and be willing to practice, knowing nobody is perfect, even the top professional speakers who span the globe in their private jets.

Let’s dive in.

Understanding the Roots of Fear

Fear of public speaking — often referred to as glossophobia — is not irrational. It’s a biological response. 

Humans are social creatures, and our primal instincts associate speaking to a large group with high stakes: rejection or failure in front of others could, historically, mean exclusion from a tribe, which was essential for survival.

In modern-day society, the closest thing to being banished from your tribe might mean losing your job, but chances are, your fear is unjustified. Most fear is self-created, and learning to stay in the now is your job.

The fear of judgment, ridicule, or making mistakes is real, but only to the extent you give that fear power. World-renowned speaker and leadership expert Brené Brown emphasizes that the fear of vulnerability plays a significant role. 

“The courage to be vulnerable is not about winning or losing,” she says. “It’s about showing up and being seen.”

Brown suggests reframing the experience: instead of viewing public speaking as a test of your worth, see it as an opportunity to share ideas, connect, and contribute.

Lessons from Other Greats

Even the most successful speakers have struggled with stage fright. Consider Warren Buffett, one of the most respected business leaders in the world, who admitted to being terrified of public speaking early in his career.

He even avoided college courses that required presentations. Realizing it was a necessary skill, Buffett enrolled in a Dale Carnegie speaking course, and through practice and persistence, he transformed his fear into confidence.

Similarly, Maya Angelou, an icon of literary and oratory brilliance, understood the power of preparation as the foundation of success. One of her famous quotes reveals that preparing to make others feel great is your primary focus.

"I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou

Angelou reminds us that even the most polished speakers have moments of hesitation — but they overcome them by being prepared and embracing authenticity.

Whether addressing a small meeting at work or delivering a keynote speech to a large audience, conquering the fear of public speaking begins with adopting practical techniques. 

Here are several strategies to help you move past your fears and into the realm of confidence.

Start Small and Build Confidence

Many world-famous speakers didn’t start their careers delivering speeches to thousands. Instead, they began in small, low-pressure environments. 

Starting small doesn’t mean standing in front of a mirror practicing in your underwear. Becoming confident means getting into the real world, in front of people, and building your confidence one speech at a time.

Joining groups like Toastmasters International or practicing in front of a supportive group of friends or colleagues can help you build confidence incrementally. 

If you’ve got a willing group of coworkers, invite them to help you by organizing a mock speech. Unless they are heartless or working remotely, they’ll likely understand your fear and be willing to help you.

Prepare Like a Pro

Preparation is the backbone of confident speaking. Rather than memorizing every word, focus on understanding the core message you wish to communicate. 

Craft a clear outline with key points, and practice until you feel comfortable and natural with your content. Edit the outline each time you go through it.

“It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” — Mark Twain

Twain’s reminder underscores the power of preparation — it transforms anxiety into ease and authority when you step onto the stage. To hell with fear. Start practicing as soon as you can.

But here’s a warning. If you fear and fail to prepare, chances are high that you will fail to succeed.

Trust, Imagine, and Feel Yourself Crushing It

Many successful speakers and performers use visualization. Trusting in your ability requires you to imagine and feel your success. The old saying goes, "Fake it until you make it."

Seeing is believing, just like a picture is worth countless words. Imagine yourself nailing the speech and everyone standing up to applaud you. That’s way better than seeing the audience throw rotten fruit your way.

Long before you step onto the stage, imagine yourself delivering a powerful, confident presentation. Picture the audience engaged and receptive to your message.

Visualization can rewire your brain, replacing fear with anticipation and confidence. Oprah Winfrey strongly advocates this technique, often crediting her mental rehearsals for her ability to connect deeply with audiences.

Embrace Your Nerves

Feeling nervous before speaking is expected — even for the most experienced speakers. Instead of eliminating those nerves, focus on channeling them into positive energy.

As Jerry Seinfeld humorously pointed out, “According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. That means, at a funeral, the average person would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy.”

While the joke highlights the commonality of fear, it also reminds us that nerves are part of the process. Recognize that your body’s response to stress — those butterflies in your stomach — can sharpen your focus and make your delivery more engaging.

Use your heightened awareness to connect more dynamically with your audience and give your speech the energy it deserves. Make your nervous energy your friend.

Connect with Your Audience

The best speeches feel personal and relatable. Shift your focus away from yourself and onto your audience. 

When I worked as a business partner with a famous public speaker and author of seven New York Times bestselling books, one of his habits was gathering a list of influential people who would attend. 

He would then call each of them and ask them to give him insights about themselves. Then, he made detailed notes and integrated them into his speech.

What does your audience need to hear? What stories or ideas can you share that will resonate with them? What does your audience care most about, if not themselves?

Remember what Dale Carnegie said about winning friends and influencing people in your audience:

“Your purpose is to make your audience see what you saw, hear what you heard, feel what you felt. Relevant detail, couched in concrete language, is the most powerful communication tool of all.” — Dale Carnegie

That means don’t make your speech all about you. Consider the people in your audience and what they care about most. Conduct proper research. Please do your best to speak to their hearts; you will likely win their minds.

Learn to Recover from Mistakes

There is no such thing as a perfect speech. Even the most celebrated speakers occasionally stumble. Chances are you’re the one who is most demanding on yourself, and your audience may not notice the mistakes you make.

In her famous Harvard commencement speech, J.K. Rowling paused after forgetting a line, took a deep breath, and continued gracefully. Instead of fearing mistakes, view them as part of the process.

Acknowledge the mistake, recover, and move forward. Doing so shows authenticity and resilience, which audiences appreciate. Smile instead of beating yourself up, and win their hearts.

Also, if you can embrace humor, cracking an appropriate joke about your mistake might win favor. But be careful not to cancel yourself these days.

The Role of Mindset and Practice

Overcoming the fear of public speaking is a process rather than an event. You can’t teach a kid to ride a bicycle in a webinar, nor can you learn to be a great speaker sitting behind a computer.

Building confidence takes time, repeated exposure, and a shift in perspective. Focus on growth rather than perfection, and remember that even the most renowned speakers were once beginners. 

Don’t put excessive pressure on yourself. If you trip out about the future, pull yourself back to the now, block time to refine your speech, and practice it with a clear vision of success.

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steven Jobs

When you care about your message, that enthusiasm will resonate with your audience, transforming fear into excitement.

Let Fear Be Your Springboard to Courage

In closing, I just signed up a young tech company founder who’s freaking out about an upcoming wedding speech he needs to deliver. I’ve sent him an outline of the fundamentals to help him prepare.

If he cares about nailing his speech, he’ll care about being coachable and practicing before the big day. He’ll use his fear as the motivation to practice and nail it.

My job is to show him the way and encourage him to do his best. After all, you can’t ask for more than doing your best and knowing that the more you practice, the better you’ll become.

Public speaking may never feel comfortable, but it doesn’t have to be terrifying, even if the boss makes you wear some stupid costume.

By understanding the roots of your fear, preparing effectively, and drawing inspiration from those who have mastered the craft, you can reframe your perspective and develop the confidence to speak with authority and heart.

Take it one step at a time, and remember: every great speaker began as someone who dared to stand up and speak.

This article was originally published for my followers on Medium. I write about the art of human transformation, consciousness, spiritual evolution, transcending suffering, and mental health. Learn about my executive and strategic communications work at www.CliffordJones.com.