Top Speech Coach Shares Top 10 Ways To Reduce Presentation Anxiety
According to Business Research Insights, the global speech presentation coaching market is projected to reach USD$11.01 billion (£8.39 billion) by 2035, up from USD$6.02 billion (£4.59 billion) in 2025, driven by a growing need for public speaking and presentation skills. Many in the industry believe that, in this field, AI will have a positive impact by providing feedback and insights, but won’t be able to replicate empathy, shared experiences or respond appropriately with the human connection that we all need. So why is the market growing, and how can we help those who suffer from anxiety when presenting?
The growth in social anxiety and the confidence gap.
Those who excel at their jobs often get promoted into leadership positions but then realise they lack the skills or confidence to present, as is often required in top roles. This may be because of shyness or introversion, neurodiversity, a lack of opportunities in state school, or just not enjoying presenting. Additionally, social anxiety is on the rise, and the pandemic means many of us struggle with the non-transactional part of conversation and small talk, even if we previously had those skills.
Whilst we may be able to write a good presentation, when it comes to delivering it, many of us struggle with confidence, feel overly anxious, or present well but fall short when it comes to a Q&A session and thinking on our feet. Many men in particular, still believe that communication is a soft skill and should be easy, and therefore experience shame in the struggle. Concern is something you can address, but when we lose the battle against anxiety, it controls us. The good news is that whilst we may not all be naturals at it, we can develop these skills and manage the anxiety.
First things first
1) Ask Yourself What Your Audience Needs. When you are thoughtful about your audience, your mindset is around what they require, want to learn, and how they connect or engage. They have come to hear you as you are an authority, and they want to listen to what you have to say. Know that when you turn up to present, all the work will have been done, and all that is left is to engage with your audience. Make it about them rather than you to lift the pressure.
2) See yourself as a servant of the message. Then the narrative changes to you looking out for the audience and providing a service they want. Know that they are rooting for you, rather than assuming they are judging you. Who has ever been to a presentation or talk when they want the speaker to fail? See yourself as a storyteller. All presenters have started without experience, so know that we have all been there and experienced nerves.
3) Set a clear intention for yourself. Be deliberate about the words you use. Consider your body language and the subliminal messages it gives. Use anecdotes to increase relatability. Being able to present means having your voice and thoughts heard. Successfully presenting is confidence-building, a transformative turning point and helps us to grow.
4) Ensure a seamless setup for a great first impression. Liaise with key support staff and eliminate as many unknowns from the environment as possible by gaining information, such as how big the space is. How many people will be in the room, and who are they? What technology will be offered? Will you be sitting as part of a panel or standing?
Creating the Presentation
5) Start with the end in mind. Ask yourself how you want the presentation to land. Commencing with your conclusion crystallises your thinking and will shape the direction of everything else. Be structured and very clear in the points you want to make so you can take your audience on a positive journey.
6) Use prompts or brief notes as an anchor, if you need them, but don’t read out your presentation. Reading word-for-word is only valuable when delivering direct quotes or statistics. Where you hold your prompt may affect your posture and audience engagement. If you are physically nervous, a sheet of shaking paper is far more obvious than a card. Use visual aids in your presentation if they serve the audience; this can also act as a cue for you, but avoid more than a glance at your slides.
7) Preparation means muscle memory. Rehearse enough that your presentation is known, so that your muscle memory will dispel any anxiety you have when delivering on the day. Practise modulating your voice appropriately. Have content-inspired vocal changes in pitch, pace, pause, tone, inflection, and emphasis to build impact. Use your voice to share your energy. That never means shouting. Lowering your tone or having a deliberate pause can equally create impact.
On The Day
8) Maximise your voice to really engage with your audience. Anxiety creates body tension, which tightens the vocal cords. Warm up your voice and engage your resonators beforehand by humming, then release it into ahhs. Try a resonator scale, using words with a variety of pitches. Know that a microphone amplifies the voice rather than making it louder, so you can speak as you would without one.
9) Tune in to yourself before right before the event. Be present and check in with your body, mind and gut. Breathe deeply. Nasal inhalation stimulates the vagus nerve, which connects the brain neurons with those in your gut. Reframe your nerves as excitement and use it to fuel the energy in your voice. Check your posture and lift your sternum. Smile. It has a positive effect on your nervous system, creates audience rapport and your voice will sound warmer. Do a big expansive ‘Ha!’ to free your voice.
10) If you make a mistake, don’t draw attention to it. It is likely no one will notice, or if they do, they are less likely to register it for more than a second or two. Always have a glass of water to hand because the audience won’t mind you taking a sip if you need a moment to think and will just see it as part of the presentation. Know that things go wrong even for professionals. Assure yourself that your level of preparedness will get you through successfully and relax into it. Enjoy yourself – it will increase the likelihood your audience will enjoy you too.
By leading voice and speech coach, Fiona Brennan-Scott
