3 Simple Steps to Manage Your Public Speaking Nerves

Who hasn’t felt a little (or a lot) nervous before public speaking, or stepping up to give an important presentation? The thought of “what if I mess up?” loop playing in your head?

Yes, we’ve all been there.

Who DOESN’T feel a little jittery when all eyes are on you? But here’s the thing: those nerves don’t have to take over.

In fact, with three simple steps, you can turn those nerves into confidence and deliver a presentation that leaves your audience saying, “Wow, they nailed it!”

Check out this 1.5 minute video to get your 3-step game plan:

1. Prepare
Start by digging into your content and asking yourself: What does my audience need to hear? What’s the message that will resonate most with them? The more you know about your content and your audience, the more confident you’ll feel. It’s about knowing how to deliver value that sticks.

2. Practice
Once you’ve prepared your message, it’s time to practice it. Not in your head, not while pacing the kitchen, but out loud. Why? Because you will:

• Hear how your words actually sound.
• Figure out where to adjust the flow.
• Get comfortable with the timing, especially if you’ve got a tight schedule.

When you know your material like the back of your hand, you’ll walk into that room feeling prepared—and ready.

3. Focus on Your Audience
Your presentation isn’t about you. It’s about them. Instead of worrying about how nervous you feel, focus on the value you’re delivering to your audience. What do they need from this presentation? How can I make this experience engaging and meaningful for them?

When your focus is on helping your audience, those nerves tend to fade into the background.

When you prepare, practice, and focus on your audience, the nerves that you were so worried about? They’ll turn into energy that fuels your presentation, instead of holding it back.

What’s your go-to strategy for calming presentation nerves? I’d love to hear your tips!

(p.s. If you want more tips like these, grab a copy of my book, From Nervous to Nailed It!