Public speaking.
Just reading those words might make your stomach do a little flip.
Whether it’s presenting in a meeting, introducing yourself at an event, or standing on stage, the idea of speaking in front of others can be enough to send even the most capable woman into panic mode.
However, speaking confidently isn’t about being the loudest in the room, having the perfect words, or never feeling nervous. It’s about presence. It’s about owning your space, trusting your voice, and remembering that what you have to say matters.
Overcoming the Fear
I remember the first time I had to speak in front of a room full of people. I stood at the front, notes in hand, heart pounding so loudly I was sure they could hear it. My throat felt dry, my mind raced, and I was convinced I was about to make an absolute fool of myself.
But I didn’t.
I spoke, I stumbled a little, but I got through it.
And afterwards?
People came up to me. Not to say, “Wow, that was perfectly delivered”, but to tell me that what I said resonated with them. That it made them think. That they were glad they came to hear me.
That was the moment I realised public speaking isn’t about delivering something flawlessly. It’s about connection.
Why Public Speaking Isn’t About Perfection
The people in the room aren’t waiting for you to fail. They’re not picking apart every word or counting how many times you say ‘um’. They just want to hear what you have to say. They want to feel something.
I’ve seen so many women hold themselves back because they think they have to be better before they can speak. More polished. More articulate. More like her… whoever she is in their mind.
But the most powerful speakers aren’t the ones with the biggest vocabulary or the smoothest delivery. They’re the ones who own the moment. Who stand up and speak with conviction, even if their hands shake a little.
Building Confidence
We’ve all watched someone speak who seems completely at ease, like they belong there, like they own the space they’re in. But you know…that’s actually not something they were born with. It’s something they’ve stepped into.
Confidence doesn’t come before you speak. It comes because you speak.
I had a client once who was terrified of public speaking. She ran a successful business, was brilliant at what she did, but the idea of speaking in front of people made her feel physically sick. She’d avoid it at all costs, even turning down opportunities that could have helped her business grow.
One day, she was asked to introduce someone at an event. Just a short, two-minute intro. She couldn’t say no, so she panicked, over-prepared, convinced herself she’d mess it up. But when the moment came, she did it. She got up there, her voice wavered slightly at first, but then she found her rhythm.
Afterwards, she laughed and said, “That wasn’t as bad as I thought.”
That’s how it starts. One moment of proving to yourself that you can. And then another. And another.
Owning Your Space When Speaking in Public
Most of the time, the fear we feel around speaking isn’t actually about the speaking itself. It’s about what we think will happen. That we’ll look stupid. That we’ll forget our words. That people will judge us.
But the reality is, when you stand up and speak, when you own your space, that’s when people listen. Not because you’re perfect, but because you’re present.
You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to be there.
