You are preparing for your big speech...
presentation, podcast, sales pitch, interview, all hands meeting, annual review...
You Prepare and Rehearse and Then Your Mind Goes Blank!
We've been there. It's Terrifying! We are here to help.
Got a question? Connect with us
Reasons Why You're Afraid to Speak Publicly
Welcome to being human. Everyone feels an energy increase in the body before and during public speaking. The secret is that you can learn through experience and practice to control the energy level and even turn it into the power to give a great speech.
What if I blank?
Blanking is a symptom not a permanent condition. Great speakers learn and practice getting back on top of their speaking. We're human; we're going to encounter losing our train of thought, or rambling, or repeating ourselves... Noticing those moments while we're speaking and recovering takes drilling. Our online speaking games make it simple.
Yes the best speaking always is. Being vulnerable takes courage. In fact these are directly coupled; courage is not exhibited without vulnerability. However boundaries and discretion - who you share what with and in what circumstance is vital. Becoming more clear about this through practice, stretching your possibilities in a safe environment, enables you to get clear and comfortable with YOUR boundaries.
Words matter; the deep truth is that we all know how to speak well. We've been doing it all our lives! After you experience separating making sense from confidence, it's amazing how much sense you make when you're not stuck in trying to figure out how to make sense.
We've seen over and over that an audience won't remember what you said, but will remember how you made them feel. The audience won't feel something if you are not feeling what you are talking about. How deep you allow yourself to feel without overwhelm is just a matter of repetition, deliberate practice and determining where your boundaries lie.
People tell me I'm a boring speaker
It's our firm belief and experience that everyone has the capacity to be a good, engaging public speaker. It takes practice. It takes learning how to tell a good story. It takes building confidence through repetition and learning to deal with the energy increase that happens when you go to speak. You are not a boring speaker with your friends and family!
The fear of being fully seen in public and judged, criticized or worse shamed, is huge. We think the vulnerability and courage required to be a public speaker means there is always this risk.
We address it by practicing with others in a group. A supportive caring group of like minded people who all want to get better. You get experience being seen, appreciated and best of all, honest supportive feedback that counters the fear. Your confidence and "I'm going for it" attitude grows.
Beliefs About Speaking That Make You Feel Like You're Stuck
Public speaking Is just not me - I don't have what it takes
When you see people public speaking on video or live, who seem so natural, at ease and entertaining, do you sometimes feel like they must have come from another gene pool to be able to speak so well?
Honestly, they are just like you and me. Being comfortable on stage or on camera, presenting confidently about things you care about and showing your full self; anyone can do it. It's a skill you can learn. You can learn it quicker than you think!
No you don't have to be an extrovert. Some of our clients are introverts and they learned, like us, to be good public speakers.
Even the very best public speakers had a learning curve, and at first, they were not that good. What's keeping you stuck isn't a lack of innate ability to be a good speaker. It's your internal thoughts that you'll be judged and feel embarrassed.
Learning to be a good public speaker depends on deliberate practice and helpful accurate feedback in a supportive environment.
I can learn this on my own
Yes you can. But it will take a lot of time, and you'll have a difficult time sticking with it because it's really hard to keep going on your own.
Accountability and someone cheering you on can really help you get and keep up the momentum that is so essential to learning and progress.
Practicing by yourself, without an audience, without a coach and helpful, honest feedback seems like the hardest way to keep improving what is an already daunting task.
What makes a difference is having a community around you who are in the same boat and are working towards the same goal.
Speaking up or hitting Video post is risky
What if I do a bad job? What if I'm embarrassed? What if my client, friend, co-worker, boss doesn't like what I say?
It's so easy to get locked into a downward spiral of "what-ifs."
What are the positive possibilities?
What if you spoke well, clearly and with energy and that made a positive impression with great feedback from your peers? What if you spoke confidently during that interview and nailed a new position? What if you delivered a stellar presentation at the all hands meeting and your bosses boss had praise for you?
Speaking well opens many exciting opportunities and continues to send the your way. You'll be surprised at how much more you will actually enjoy speaking in front of audiences of any size.
Who is this For?
You see and realize there are opportunities all around you to speak in public - whether at your job, within your industry, to motivate your team, or perhaps on Youtube, LinkedIn, or Tiktok.
You're interested in learning and growing your skillset. Perhaps you've already explored other public speaking trainings or groups.
Who is this NOT For?
You feel that you must have your feelings of energy (butterflies, knotted gut, anxiety, rapid breathing...) go away completely.
That's an unrealistic get.
You see opportunities and you want an easy way to take advantage.
This is a simple process but it does take some dedication and practice to get it "in the muscle". There are no shortcuts, except deliberate practice and experience.