Why you’re still nervous to speak


Here’s the truth no one likes to admit:

You can watch speaking tips videos from Simon Sinek and Vinh Giang and every other public speaking guru on social media. You can ask ChatGPT to help you prepare for your next presentation.

You can attend years of Toastmasters meetings. And when you stand up to speak you STILL feel your throat close, your heart race, your breath shorten. You still sweat and your legs still shake.

And that’s okay. You’re not broken; you’re human.

When you speak under stress, your body launches into fight-or-flight.

But you know this.

It's THAT cascade of uncomfortable feelings that makes you crumble under the pressure, makes you forgettable as a speaker, or worse — makes you memorable for all the wrong reasons.

And if that happens, you’ll most likely do one thing. Quit. And think maybe I’m just not cut out for this “public speaking” thing.

Don’t give in to that kind of thinking.

Building confidence in public speaking is a major differentiator between those who smash through glass-ceilings and those who just think about reaching their goals one day.

It creates connection and opportunities. It is influence. In a way it's magic.

The good news is that confident speaking isn’t built by learning enough theory to become “good enough” or by memorizing a speech word for word. So let me just save you the time.

Confidence is built from proof, from winning. There’s no way around it.

If you want to be a confident speaker then you need to build up a series of small wins by speaking more and learning to control your nervous system under pressure.

Most public speaking programs will teach you what to say and when and miss out on how to stay steady while saying it.

That’s exactly what I have been preparing for you in… drumroll please…

From Stage Fright to Stage Might

A FREE 60 minute training that will help you stack the wins in your favor and have you on track to speaking confidently EVERY TIME.

If you’re ready get on the win train 🚂 then grab a seat!

xx
Val

P.S. I am giving away everything in this training that I usually give to my 1-on-1 clients who pay me hundreds of dollars and hour.

Val Erickson–Public Speaking Coach

My name is Val, and I’m a public speaking strategist and coach helping leaders, professionals, and purpose-driven speakers show up with confidence, clarity, and impact—without the fluff, filler, or panic sweats. Inside Off the Cuff, my weekly email, you’ll get exclusive tips, sneak peeks at new trainings and resources, and first dibs when new programs or workshops open up. Join now—because confident speaking doesn’t happen by accident–It happens Off the Cuff... and On Purpose.

Read more from Val Erickson–Public Speaking Coach

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Hi Reader, Most people add words when they feel unsure. It shows up as one more sentence, extra explanation or clarifying something no one asked for. But in presentations that matter, something different shows up. People who know what’s at stake speak less. They stop sooner and trust the point to land. Not because they have nothing more to say — but because they know what actually matters. Authority isn’t volume. It’s knowing what matters. If you want to see what this sounds like in practice,...

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