How to Gain Confidence in Public Speaking: Your Action Plan

Have you ever felt your heart race, your hands sweat, or your voice tremble at the mere thought of standing in front of a crowd? If so, welcome to the club. 75% of people worldwide suffer from speech anxiety, also known as glossophobia.

Whether you’re preparing for a best man speech, a high-stakes work presentation, or a keynote event, a lack of confidence can feel like a wall between you and your message.

But here is the secret: Confidence is a learnable skill, not a trait you are born with. You earn it through preparation, repetition, and a few pro tips I have used to coach even experienced speakers.

Here is your actionable blueprint to conquering the stage and finding your voice.

 1. Embrace the 90/10 Rule of Preparation

The biggest mistake speakers make is under-preparing. I always say that public speaking is 90% preparation and only 10% delivery. If you skip the prep, you are essentially gambling that you're 10% delivery ability can carry the entire weight of the speech. So how do we prepare?

•  Deep Research: Don’t just recite common knowledge. Dig for facts, figures, and stories your audience hasn't heard before to provide real value.

•  The Rule of Three: Humans struggle to remember more than three main points. Structure your speech with a clear beginning, middle, and end, and limit the middle section to three key takeaway points.

•  Outline, Don't Script: Avoid memorising your speech word-for-word; it makes you sound wooden and increases the risk of blanking out if you forget a single word. Instead, use bullet-pointed prompts that act as a "well-worn path" for your brain to follow.

2. Master Your Mindset: The "Winning Mentality"

Confidence often starts in the mind. To overcome imposter syndrome (the feeling that you aren’t qualified to be on stage) you must actively reframe your internal narrative. You can reframe your mindset by...

•  Positive Self-Talk: Quiet your inner critic by replacing thoughts like "I shouldn't be here" with "I have something valuable to share".
•  Visualisation: Professional athletes and speakers a like use visualisation. Imagine yourself delivering your opening line perfectly and receiving rapturous applause.
•  Audience First Focus: We get nervous when we focus too much on ourselves. Shift your focus to the audience's needs. They aren't an angry mob; they are individuals who want to learn from you.

3. Use Science to Calm Your Nerves

Nerves are a natural fight or flight response to pushing past your comfort zone. You can’t eliminate the adrenaline, but you can use it to your advantage with a few simple techniques...

•  Box Breathing: To lower your heart rate, breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4, and wait for 4 before repeating.
•  Speak on the Exhale: A pro tip to avoid the "wibbly squeaky" voice is to start speaking while your breath is coming out. This makes you sound more balanced and in control.
•  Burn the Adrenaline: Adrenaline is meant to be used up by action. Move your body, stretch, or walk around before taking the stage to loosen up and prevent yourself from becoming like a stiff statue.

4. Elevate Your Delivery Through Body Language

Public speaking is a performance, and your body communicates as much as your words do. Use the following to bring energy to your performance and boost your confidence.

•  The Power Zone: Keep your gestures between the top of your head and your belt buckle to convey authority.
•  Intentional Eye Contact: Don’t look constantly at your notes or scan the room like a typewriter. Instead, pick a friendly face in the crowd and make a statement directly to them before moving to someone on the other side of the room.
•  Vary Your Vocal Delivery: Avoid being monotone by adjusting your Volume, Pitch, and Pace. Slow down for important points and use strategic pauses to let your message sink in.

5. Recover Like a Pro

Even the best speakers lose their place. The difference is how they handle it. You can handle blanking like a pro by...

•  Owning the Moment: If you blank out, don't panic. Take a sip of water, breathe, and/or admit it. The audience will often chuckle and support you because it makes you feel authentic and human.
•  Never Go Without Notes: Always have your bullet points in your pocket or on the podium as a safety net to help you get back on track.

Final Thoughts: Practice Makes Progress

Remember, natural delivery is the result of good preparation. Start small and speak up in a meeting or a social gathering and build your confidence muscle through experience in low stakes situations.

If you want to dive deeper, you can download my my Step-By-Step to Writing a Speech Guide from the link below which will walk you through your outlining process and give you a template you can steal.

Your voice is valuable, and it deserves to be heard.