For a public appearance to be effective and fulfill its purpose, every speaker (even though public performance doesn’t always involve words) should be confident in their answers to three fundamental principles that lie at the core of all uncertainty and doubt surrounding the act of speaking itself:

I know what I’m talking about

I know why I’m talking about it

I don’t doubt my ability to deliver it

The first principle relates to the question of competence. To be effective in public speaking – and this is indeed our goal, we must truly be knowledgeable in the area we intend to communicate to others. In colloquial terms – we must “master the subject matter.” Knowledge – more precisely, confidence in our own knowledge, is the foundation of a strong public appearance. Without it, it’s natural for insecurity to arise, even in speakers who are not typically prone to stage fright.

The second principle concerns purpose – the intentions that the public performance should achieve. Regardless of whether it’s a traditional lecture, a presentation, or stand-up comedy, all forms of public performance aim to create a specific effect. The audience must “gain” some value. The essence is that people should leave the space in which the performance takes place with new knowledge, insight, or emotion. If we return to the first principle – knowledge (or skill) should be delivered with a clear point, or as it’s often put, a benefit for the audience.

The third principle is the most common reason why public speaking is such a widely discussed topic. It often happens that even those who are completely confident in their expertise (first principle) and the intention they wish to achieve (second principle) still doubt their ability to deliver it. Among the reasons usually quoted is masking a single, well-known, underlying barrier: insecurity. Therefore, what may have always been part of a person’s character, an idea of addressing a larger or smaller group, or even only one person if that person is perceived as important or if something depends on them, is now activated in certain capacity. The degree to which this is manifested – ranging from slight discomfort to complete mental block, will vary from person to person. However, anyone who feels this way should be grateful for this unsettling signal. Why? Stage fright, nervousness in front of an audience or a camera, is a sign that certain negative beliefs about oneself have not yet been addressed or resolved.

Fear always leads us in a very specific direction – where we shouldn’t go. It takes the form of questions like:

What if I’m not good enough?

What if I lose my train of thought or get confused?

What will people in the audience think of me?

That last question, I’m inclined to call the first chapter, as an overture to a life filled with setbacks. Unfortunately, many of us shape our life choices and priorities based on that dilemma. We tend to be obsessed with the impression we are going to make – even on people who mean nothing to us and whom we’ll most likely never see again. So why do we care? When there is no clear self-assessment, no conscious awareness of who we are, our value, what we excel at, what we’re average at, and where we fall short – we tend to seek validation from others. And sadly, we take that external validation for granted. If your self-awareness depends on how others value you, it will always be unstable, relative, and full of doubt. Not everyone will see you the same way. Often, people view us superficially and without deeper interest and such a judgment is based on other people’s own set of values, which can be completely wrong. The age we live in, this era of digital exposure, fosters “shallow judgments”, harmful comparisons, and all kinds of insecurity. To entrust someone else with a judgment that is crucial to your life is to hand over unlimited power, which can turn you into a puppet, a fragile shell of a person, allowing your real talents and acquired knowledge to remain buried, unused, and wasted. After all, if you don’t believe in yourself, on what grounds do you expect others to?

The worst ways to conceal stage fright are memorizing your presentation word-for-word and rehearsing body movements. These strategies only create extra pressure and a false sense of control over the situation (what if someone interrupts you?). Before all, the audience can easily recognize both, just as they can sense nervousness in a speaker. Memorizing a speech eliminates one of the most important qualities of public speaking: spontaneity. And in life, we feel best in the company of spontaneous people. Spontaneity is the foundation of good communication because it breaks down barriers and creates a comfortable space for exchange. It encourages listeners to engage and participate. Many public speaking coaches emphasize body language and posture during a presentation (aversion to overacting). These won’t be of much use if they’re artificially imposed, like a memorized speech. The body undoubtedly has its own language, but it is most convincing when it follows you naturally – spontaneously. Even crossing your arms on your chest won’t create a barrier if that’s the position in which you feel most comfortable, and which reflects your authentic self. At the end of the day, no improvisation can match the power of an authentic self. To put it more simply: Are you ready to really be yourself during your presentation? Dare to, even if you’re not entirely sure of the answer. Don’t look away from the audience toward some imaginary point among those present or stare at the floor. You are not a criminal waiting to be sentenced. Look the audience in the eye – one person while expressing a particular thought, then another. Do it openly, not timidly or arrogantly (a common defense mechanism). Yes, you will probably see a disapproving face. Move on. Do not try to win that person over or soften them or let them throw you off track. A confident speaker finds motivation even in rejection, but don’t rush; that skill comes with time. (adapt your tone as if expecting a direct response from that exact person).

Even when you’re at your most confident, you may certainly have a bad day, which can feel like low-level stage fright. That is why, unless you love being in front of an audience and look forward to it, it is helpful to relax with simple exercises before speaking.

These primarily include:

Deep breathing with counting (ten inhales and exhales) while focusing on the process (a meditation technique);

Creating tension from your feet to the top of your head – contract and then release each part step by step;

Prolonged vocalization of vowels while stretching your face muscles, which helps ensure fluent speech.

You should also set your speaking tempo: avoid speaking too fast (which makes you seem nervous and hard to follow), but also avoid being too slow (which can become monotonous).

Structure is crucial.

Introduction: Sets the foundation and draws listeners into the topic (context, societal relevance, why this topic matters);

Main Body: Thesis, antithesis, synthesis – the most common approach; breaking down and expanding on the topic from all relevant aspects.

Conclusion: A summary of the core message, which brings us back to the second principle. This is the reason we have all gathered – the insight, skill, or point that will be useful to each and everyone in the audience in their future life or work.

Beyond structure, clarity is key. Avoid endless digressions, exaggerated expressions aimed at impressing and leaving an overwhelming impression. Expressing genuine emotion during your talk is a valuable “infusion of life” into theory. But once again, the prerequisite for boosting your public appearance is authenticity. Don’t plan to laugh at a specific moment – let it be a genuine reflection of how you feel. Don’t hesitate to enrich your presentation with personal experience, anecdotes, your own story. Aside from the ever-present interest in private lives of others (you’re the speaker, but also a person with your own history of success and failure), truth, as an acknowledgement of imperfection, creates a stronger connection with the audience.