Opinion: 5 fears of public speaking you can overcome

Over four decades and more than 3,000 presentations, I’ve encountered nearly every speaking challenge possible. But the biggest challenge of all was getting past public speaking anxiety.

At the start of my career, anxiety besieged my mind and body. I still remember the knots in my stomach, shaky hands and the fear of going blank mid-presentation.

For a while, I carried stomach medication just to avoid letting nerves get the better of me before presenting.

If public speaking causes your pulse to quicken or your palms to sweat, you’re far from alone. Numerous studies confirm it’s the most common fear among adults, even more so than physical harm.

Accomplished musicians, elite athletes and seasoned actors regularly admit to pre-performance nerves. Mark Twain captured it best: “There are two types of speakers: those who get nervous and those who are liars.” Nervousness truly is universal.

The real breakthrough comes not from eliminating fear, but from managing it. My perspective changed when I realized the audience wasn’t there to judge me but to learn.

Ultimately, I found ways to lessen my anxiety, no matter how big the stage or how critical it was to do well.

Here are five common fears and real-world tips for overcoming them.

1. Fear of judgment. Worrying about audience approval is natural. Often, negative self-talk sounds like, “What if they don’t like me?” or, “What if I sound uninformed?” I recall one of my first major presentations, and the doubts that dominated my thinking. Afterward, I realized that the audience genuinely wanted me to succeed, and that fear was a barrier of my own creation.

Audiences come to listen – not to nitpick your every word. Focusing on your message, connecting with your audience and delivering value.

2. Fear of forgetting. Losing your train of thought is easy to avoid. The best advice is to prepare. Legendary presenter Zig Ziglar spent hours prepping even the talks he’d delivered hundreds of times, ensuring it was fresh on his mind.

For a major international event, I’ll spend months creating and rehearsing a 90-minute keynote until it’s locked-in. But even then, memory slips happen. If you go blank, pause intentionally and refer to your notes. Audiences are understanding, especially if you address a lapse with humility or light humor. I’ve said, “My train of thought just lost its caboose,” prompting a chuckle and a moment to regroup.

3. Fear of making mistakes. Mistakes are inevitable, even for the most polished speakers. Once, while speaking at a conference, I mispronounced a key industry term. Rather than panic, I paused, chuckled and corrected myself, and moved forward. Admitting a slip with confidence shows authenticity. “That sounded confusing. Let me clarify what I meant.” The more composed your reaction, the less disruptive it becomes. Besides, most slipups pass unnoticed or are quickly forgotten by your audience. Don’t strive for perfection – and you’ll have more fun.

4. Fear of rejection. A fellow speaker-friend told me, “Holmes, if you’re not upsetting 10% of your audience, you’re likely boring the other 90%.” You don’t have to earn universal fondness or agreement to give a successful presentation. Avoid letting your mind consider, “What if they don’t agree, don’t like my topic or don’t think I’m funny?”

Not everyone will agree with or like your presentation. Accept it and go on.

5. Fear of running out of time. The fear of running out of time is a valid concern. At a major industry convention, several speakers ran over their allotted time. Just minutes before my keynote, the CEO asked if I could cut my 45-minute speech in half! Knowing my points, stories and facts well allowed for on-the-fly adjustments. I quickly distilled my main points and delivered a concise, energetic talk. Don’t worry if you need to skip some content, your audience won’t know what’s missing. Prioritize clarity and impact over delivering every planned point, story and quote.

Public speaking isn’t about eliminating fear but overcoming it. With preparedness you can handle the fear of judgment, forgetting, mistakes, rejection or time pressure. Your audience is rooting for you. Face your fears and speak confidently.

Mark Holmes is a consultant, professional speaker and author of “Selling to ELON! Understand, Communicate and Sell to Unique Personality Types,” and he’s president of Springfield-based Consultant Board Inc. and SalesRevenueCoach.com. He can be reached at mark@salesrevenuecoach.com.