Public speaking is terrifying for many people. The thought of standing in front of an audience, with all eyes on you, can be anxiety-inducing, even for the most experienced speakers. But here’s the truth: the key to overcoming that fear, and becoming a confident and compelling speaker, lies in one simple but powerful word: practice.
No matter how nervous you are about speaking in public, regular practice can transform you from someone who dreads the spotlight into someone who thrives in it.
In this post, I’ll share with you why practice is so crucial for public speaking, how it helps you overcome anxiety, and specific ways you can integrate it into your routine to become a better speaker.
Why Practice is the Foundation of Great Public Speaking
At its core, public speaking is no different from any other skill such as learning how to play an instrument, a new language, or mastering a sport. Just like these activities, public speaking improves with practice. The more you practice, the more comfortable, skilled, and confident you become.
There’s a common misconception that great public speakers are born with natural talent. While some people may have an inherent ease with speaking, the vast majority of successful speakers have honed their abilities through consistent, intentional practice.
Take for example world-renowned speakers like Martin Luther King Jr., Oprah Winfrey, or Steve Jobs. These speakers didn’t just wake up one day and find themselves able to deliver powerful talks that captivated audiences. Behind every flawless speech were hours of preparation, rehearsal, and refinement.
Mastering public speaking is a lot like building any skill into your routine. Progress comes from dedication and commitment to practice. Each time you speak, you’re drawing on your past experiences, gradually strengthening both your comfort and confidence. Over time, speaking in front of others will feel more natural, empowering, and I believe that it can become something that you truly enjoy.
How Practice Helps Overcome Public Speaking Anxiety
For many, the biggest obstacle to effective public speaking is anxiety. The nervousness before stepping on stage, the fear of forgetting words or being judged can be overwhelming.
In my post on overcoming public speaking anxiety, I presented 10 transformative techniques for managing those nerves and becoming a better communicator.
But there is one technique that brings everything together and that is: practice. For everything else to work, practice is your greatest ally.
How does practice help reduce and manage public speaking anxiety:
1. Familiarity Breeds Comfort
One of the main reasonswe feel anxious about public speaking is the fear of the unknown.
What will happen if? What if I forget my points? Will the audience like me? etc etc
Practicing your speech several times removes much of this uncertainty. The more you rehearse, the more familiar you become with the material, and the less room there is for surprises. You know your points, your transitions, and how to structure your delivery. This familiarity breeds confidence, allowing you to focus on connecting with your audience rather than worrying about what could go wrong.
2. Repetition Rewires Your Brain
When you repeatedly practice a skill, you’re doing more than just memorizing words – you’re rewiring your brain. Each time you rehearse, you’re building new neural pathways that make the act of public speaking feel more automatic and less stressful. Over time, your brain begins to associate speaking in public with a sense of ease and confidence, rather than fear and anxiety.
This is the same principle behind muscle memory. When you practice a speech enough times, the words flow naturally, your body language becomes more expressive, and you stop overthinking every move. Instead of struggling to remember what to say next, you find yourself speaking with ease and fluidity.
3. Practice Reduces the Fear of Mistakes
One of the biggest sources of anxiety in public speaking is the fear of making mistakes. Whether it’s tripping over your words, losing your place, or experiencing technical difficulties, the fear of messing up can paralyze even the most confident person.
But when you practice, you give yourself room to make mistakes and recover. By rehearsing your speech multiple times, you get the opportunity to identify potential problem areas and work on them. You might realize that a certain transition doesn’t flow well or that a point you’re making isn’t as clear as it could be. These moments are invaluable as they allow you to refine your delivery and prepare for the unexpected.
More importantly, practice helps you realize that mistakes aren’t the end of the world. By rehearsing how to recover from them, you’ll feel more in control if something does go wrong during the actual presentation.
Most Effective Ways to Practice
Now that we’ve established why practice is essential, let’s talk about how to practice public speaking effectively. There’s more to it than simply reading through your notes a few times. Here are some time and tested strategies that will help you get the most out of your practice sessions:
It’s tempting to rehearse your speech silently, running through it in your head. But there’s a huge difference between thinking about your speech and saying it out loud. Practicing aloud helps you understand how the words feel as you say them, how your voice sounds, and how long it takes to deliver the speech.
Speaking aloud also helps you to identify any areas where you might stumble, such as difficult phrases or unclear transitions. This is crucial because those moments will only trip you up more during the actual presentation if you haven’t worked through them in advance.
Practicing on your own is essential, but eventually, you’ll benefit greatly from presenting in front of others. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or coworker, having someone else listen to your speech and offer feedback is incredibly valuable.
Not only does this give you a chance to practice speaking to a live audience, but it also provides insights that you might have missed on your own. Maybe you’re speaking too quickly, or your main points aren’t as clear as you thought. Feedback allows you to fine-tune your presentation before the big day.
For me, this technique made the biggest difference. I remember when I first started practicing my speeches in front of friends and my partner, it made me just as nervous as speaking in front of strangers. But I saw that it helped me massively feel confident on the big day.
Try to recreate the conditions of your actual speaking engagement as closely as possible. If you’re delivering a speech in front of a large audience, practice in a large room. If you’ll be using slides, practice with them to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Simulating the real environment helps you feel more prepared and comfortable on the day. It also allows you to troubleshoot any potential issues in advance, so you’re not caught off guard during the actual presentation.
Preparing for the unexpected is essential since things can easily go wrong. The simulation can be done in real life or through visualization, which is a powerful technique for tricking your subconscious into believing that you’re practicing in real life.
Recording yourself while practicing can be an eye-opening experience. Watching or listening to the playback allows you to catch things you might not have noticed otherwise. Are you speaking too quickly? Using too many filler words like “um” or “uh”? How is your body language?
By reviewing your recordings, you can make small yet impactful adjustments to your delivery. It’s also a great way to track your progress over time, as you’ll notice significant improvements the more you practice.
A word of caution: the first time you see yourself on video can be demoralizing (trust I’ve been there). It’s important not to be overly critical. Instead, give yourself feedback in an encouraging and constractive way, as you would to a loved one.
To truly improve your public speaking skills, it’s vital to practice in front of others, and for me, there’s no better place to do that than Toastmasters. Toastmasters is an international organization that helps people practice public speaking in a supportive, low-pressure environment.
Being part of a public speaking group allows you to regularly practice in front of others, receive constructive feedback, and learn from other speakers.
Joining Toastmasters made a huge difference for me, and I genuinely wish I had joined a club much earlier. If you’re serious about overcoming anxiety and becoming a better communicator, I highly recommend that you consider joining a public speaking club.
Practice Does More Than Manage Anxiety
One of the most incredible things about practicing public speaking is that it does more than just calm your nerves. It builds:
- Self-Confidence: Each time you practice and deliver a successful speech, your confidence grows. This doesn’t just apply to public speaking but you start feeling it in other areas of your life, from work meetings to social interactions. When you know you can stand in front of a crowd and speak with confidence, you feel more empowered in every situation.
- Communication Skills: Through practice, you become a better communicator. You learn how to structure your thoughts, convey them clearly, and adapt your message to different audiences. These skills are invaluable, not just for public speaking but for your career, relationships, and personal growth.
- Resilience: Public speaking can be challenging, but with practice you learn to handle setbacks and bounce back from mistakes. Whether it’s forgetting a line or dealing with a technical issue, practice teaches you how to remain calm under pressure and keep going no matter what happens.
Your Path to Public Speaking Success
I can’t emphasize enough how important practice is. It was the one thing that for me made the biggest difference when it comes to managing anxiety and becoming the speaker I am today. Practice truly brings everything together and helps you feel calm, confident and ready to overcome any obstacle that comes in your way.
Remember, no one is born a natural public speaker. Everyone, from novices to professionals, has to practice to improve.
So, the next time you’re feeling anxious about an upcoming presentation or speech, remind yourself that practice is your secret weapon. The more you practice, the more prepared and confident you’ll feel. And with time, you’ll find that public speaking becomes something you can do confidently and even enjoy.
How has practice helped your public speaking? Let me know in the comments below.
