Quick Fixes For Taming Nerves When You’re Under Pressure (and Everyone is Looking at You!)

Even the most practiced speakers can feel nervous when the spotlight turns on.

At a recent Toastmasters International Speech Contest, I watched 7 exceptional speakers take the stage to confidently deliver high-quality speeches.

And I noticed 2 of them showing visible signs of nervousness, in the form of a shaking hand… and yet, they kept going. As well they should have.

Because they had worked hard at creating a valuable audience experience, and they weren’t going to let nerves stop them from sharing their message.

It was a powerful reminder: Nerves don’t mean you’re not ready. They mean you’re human.

Your audience doesn’t need you to be perfect. They need you to be real, prepared, and committed to your message.

So when the nerves hit (and they probably will), don’t give them the power to hold you back. Acknowledge them—and speak anyway. Because your message matters.

(And those 2 speakers whose hands were shaking? As experienced Toastmasters, I believe that they’re well-trained in feeling the fear, and doing it anyway. Their speeches were engaging, entertaining, and moving — complete winners who deserved their place on that stage).

Have you ever had to deal with visible nerves while you were giving a presentation? How did you handle it? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!