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The Great Big Voice Blog

Reflections on finding your voice, strengthening your presence,
and communicating what matters most, on stage and beyond.

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How to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking

By Eleni Kelakos

,
Keynote speech by Eleni

If you want to advance in life and career, you can’t hide under your desk when it’s time to do a speech or presentation.

Are you an executive, author, salesperson, entrepreneur, or professional with aspirations of success? Think you can avoid public speaking and achieve those aspirations? Alas, you cannot.
Studies show that fear of public speaking and the inability to communicate effectively can be a hindrance to advancement—in school and in business. Indeed, Paul Argenti, corporate communications professional, said it succinctly, “If you want to be a leader, you had better be able to communicate.”

 

Is fear of public speaking stifling your ability to achieve success? Wondering how to overcome fear of public speaking?

Here’s something you might not realize – 90% of people have public speaking anxiety.

The other 10%, the ones who say they have no fear of talking in front of an audience, may feel comfortable now, but it’s likely they practiced techniques to conquer their fear. And even those people still feel a rush of nervous energy before they take the stage—just like you.

  • Their chest muscles tighten.
  • Their hearts thump rapidly.
  • Their armpits sweat.
  • Their minds go into overdrive.
  • Their voices go up an octave.
  • Their mouths get dry.

But unlike those people who freak out about their body’s reaction, savvy speakers know these feelings are natural—and manageable.


Here’s a great animated video explaining what experienced speakers know about overcoming fear of public speaking—that these symptoms come from the fight-or-flight response. And rather than fear them, good public speakers embrace that surge of adrenaline and use it to their advantage.

They release excess energy, get back into their bodies, take a deep breath, calm their minds, and move forward with delivering a strong presentation.

Like you, I experienced performance anxiety—especially as a young actress in New York and Los Angeles. Through years of training and performance, I learned effective techniques to manage stage fright, show up fully, and capture an audience’s attention.

You too can learn to tame your public speaking anxiety. I’ll teach you everything I know!

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So, what are some tips on how to overcome fear of public speaking?

If only there were a “fear of public speaking medication” you could take before stepping on stage. While there isn’t, there are practical steps you can take to reduce fear and build confidence.

I’ve written a blog post called 6 Tips to Tame the Speech Anxiety Monster, which you may find helpful. There are many other good resources out there (like this one, this one from the Mayo Clinic, this site, and this example).

One thing I know for sure: you have to think like a professional actor and prepare thyself.

Prepare thyself means preparing your three presence planes:

  • Energetic presence – your mindset and beliefs
  • Physical presence – your body, breathing, and composure
  • Vocal presence – your voice and delivery

To properly prepare for a presentation, you’ve got to do things like:

  1. Identify limiting beliefs (what I call The Lies That Bind You)
  2. Learn your subject matter
  3. Understand your audience
  4. Prepare a compelling presentation
  5. Rehearse until it feels natural
  6. Dress to support confidence and comfort
  7. Practice breathing and relaxation techniques
  8. Move your body to release energy (walk, stretch, dance, etc.)

Overcoming public speaking anxiety is a process. It takes time and effort to shift the beliefs and habits that keep you stuck—but the confidence you gain is worth it.

Here’s how I help people with speech anxiety and stage fright:

I know you can overcome your fear of public speaking. And deep down, you know you can too.

Call 734.622.0522 to talk with me about how to rock the house the next time you take the podium, take the microphone, or take over the world.

If you prefer that I contact you, then fill out this form, dear one.

“Put Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell Together, add a little Robin Williams, and you’ve got Eleni Kelakos.”
Martin Stone
Our Times Coffeehouse Series, Garden City, NY
July 19, 2016

Eleni standing confidently against watercolor background

Meet Eleni!

Eleni Kelakos is a keynote speaker, coach, and presence and presentation expert. She helps leaders, speakers, and professionals show up with clarity and confidence.

She’s coached hundreds of individuals, from C-suite executives to entrepreneurs, and spoken to organizations and associations across the country. With a background as a professional actress and touring singer-songwriter, Eleni brings a deep understanding of what it means to be seen, heard, and fully present when it matters most.

Work With Eleni

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