Stage fright? Talent helps, but preparation matters more

Picture this.

You step onto the stage.

The lights hit you straight in the eyes.

Your knees soften, just a little.

Two hundred faces stare back at you.

They’re waiting for you to speak.

And your mind—blank. Completely blank.

If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. I know that feeling firsthand.

Our dear friend: glossophobia

Research shows that fear of public speaking—glossophobia—is among the most widespread fears in the world. In some surveys, it even ranks ahead of fear of death. Jerry Seinfeld once joked:“That means most people would rather be in the coffin than delivering the eulogy.”

And let’s be clear—this has nothing to do with intelligence or capability. Even the most successful founders, managers, and leaders feel the same fear. Elon Musk has had panic attacks before speaking publicly. Richard Branson avoided conferences for years. Warren Buffett hated public speaking so much in his twenties that he would start sweating just thinking about an audience. Eventually, he enrolled in a Dale Carnegie course—and it changed his life. To this day, he keeps that certificate in his office, above his university diploma.

So no—it’s not about talent.

The real truth? Public speaking is not a gift. It’s a skill.

And like any skill, it can be learned, trained, and repeated until it becomes part of you.

The difference between speakers who freeze and those who flow?

Not courage. Not genetics.

Systems.

Systems that work under pressure.

Here are a few—and how to use them in real life.

Anti-stress for unexpected questions

How many times have you finished a presentation only to get an uncomfortable question—and suddenly start rambling?

The solution: PREP (Point → Reason → Example → Point).

Example: An investor asks, “Why your app and not the competition?”

• Point: “Our app is the only one that offers X.”

• Reason: “That matters because users are looking for security and speed.”

• Example: “One client reduced costs by 40% using this feature.”

• Point: “That’s why we believe we’re the best solution.”

Why it works: structure. Instead of wandering, you guide the listener through a clear path.

The 3×10 method

An audience forms its first impression in about seven seconds. If you don’t win them early, it’s hard to get them back.

The formula:

• 10 words for the hook: “The biggest fear founders have isn’t bankruptcy—it’s the microphone.”

• 10 seconds for the outline: “In the next ten minutes, I’ll show you three tools that change everything.”

• 10% more energy than usual: When you think you’re being “too enthusiastic,” the audience sees you as just right.

Steve Jobs opened the iPhone keynote with:“Today, we’re introducing three revolutionary products.”Short. Clear. Powerful.

The audience is your mirror

People unconsciously mirror what they see. If you smile, they smile. If you nod, they nod. If you’re tense, they feel it.

Before you start speaking, take a breath—and smile. It’s an emotional “unlock” for the audience.

Barack Obama is a master of rhythmic movement and gentle nodding. The audience instinctively followed his tempo.

Triple touch: the brain loves repetition

The average person remembers only about 10% of what they hear. But if they hear something three times, retention jumps to around 60%.

Example:

• “The key to our success is the team.”

• “Our team built X and achieved Y last year.”

• “So—our success equals our team.”

They may forget the details, but not the core message.

Silence as a tool

The biggest mistake? Panicking when silence appears. People start filling it with “um,” “so,” “you know”—and instantly sound insecure.

Instead, pause. Count one Mississippi.

The audience gets time to process, and you look confident—even if you’re boiling inside.

Steve Jobs would pause after every major announcement. The audience hung on every word.

Flip the story

Most people speak like a novel: details first, conclusion last. The audience gets lost.

Start with the conclusion:

“Our product will change how people pay.”

Then give three arguments: faster, safer, more accessible.

Details—only if they ask.

This is how McKinsey consultants communicate. That’s why they always sound clear.

Tell me a story

People don’t remember data. They remember stories.

Structure:

• What is: “Today, most small business owners lose hours to bureaucracy.”

• What could be: “Imagine a world where it takes five minutes.”

• What blocks it: “The problem is that bureaucracy still lives on paper.”

• What’s needed: “Our solution digitizes everything in three clicks.”

It’s a journey from point A to point B—and the audience feels it.

Don’t be monotonous

Public speaking is like music. Play only one note, and the audience falls asleep.

• Louder for key messages

• Slower for complex ideas

• Faster for energy

• Softer for intimacy and tension

Martin Luther King constantly shifted rhythm and volume in “I Have a Dream.” That’s why we remember it.

Your body is your megaphone

Nervous speakers pace, sway, or cross their arms without realizing it. The audience reads this as insecurity.

Stand firm, feet shoulder-width apart. If you move—do it with intention.

Obama is a master of deliberate movement. When he stepped left, the audience followed instinctively.

Reset attention

When you finish a topic, don’t slide into the next one. Return to center stage. Pause. Eye contact. Then begin.

The audience experiences this as turning the page to a new chapter.

Bonus: the science behind great speaking

• The brain loves structure. Clear patterns (three steps, four frames, pyramids) make it easier to follow and remember.

• Emotion lights up memory. People remember feelings, not spreadsheets. Tell a story.

• Nonverbal communication dominates. Body language accounts for about 55% of impact, voice 38%, words just 7% (Mehrabian’s research—simplified, but directionally useful).

The audience is not your enemy

They’re not waiting for you to fail. They don’t want you to mess up.

They want you to succeed—because if you succeed, they gain value.

Introverted engineers become TEDx speakers. Founders who shook during their first pitch now lead investor meetings. Quiet CEOs get quoted at conferences.

None of them were “born speakers.”

They all used systems.

Public speaking is not a gift. It’s a skill.

And leaders who master it don’t just get remembered.

They leave a mark.

If you’re a founder, manager, or lecturer—don’t wait for the “right moment.” Pick one of these tools and practice it today. When it becomes automatic, add another. Systems are like tools in a toolbox—the more you have, the easier it is to build.

And if you need help along the way—call me.