Public speaking anxiety affects professionals at every level of seniority. Even highly competent managers and experts can experience intense stress before presentations, meetings or conferences.
“Marie, I’ve already had presentation skills training… but I still panic every time I have to speak in public.”
This is something I hear frequently during introductory calls with new clients.
The reality is that many professionals have already learned the practical techniques of public speaking: how to structure a presentation, use body language effectively or engage an audience. These tools are essential, but they are not always enough when public speaking anxiety runs deeper.
If standing up in front of a group still triggers panic – trembling legs, excessive sweating, blushing, dry mouth or suddenly losing your train of thought – it often means that the fear is rooted in something more profound than presentation techniques alone.
Very often, beneath the anxiety lies a deeper fear: the fear of being judged, not being legitimate or somehow “not good enough”.
Why presentation skills training is not always enough
Traditional presentation skills training teaches valuable communication techniques and can absolutely help you become a more impactful speaker.
However, public speaking anxiety is rarely just a technical issue.
You may know exactly how to structure a presentation and still freeze when all eyes are on you. Why?
Because the body and nervous system do not always respond to logic.
When anxiety takes over, your brain can switch into survival mode. Your heart races, your breathing changes and your inner critic becomes louder:
“What if I fail?”
“What if they judge me?”
“What if I lose credibility?”
In those moments, confidence cannot simply be “performed”. The deeper emotional response also needs to be addressed.
What causes public speaking anxiety?
The causes can be numerous.
Sometimes, the fear stems from a painful experience at school or a professional presentation that went badly. For others, it goes back even further. Many of us grew up being told not to take up too much space, not to speak too loudly or not to draw attention to ourselves.
As adults, being visible in front of a group – and speaking with authority as an expert – can therefore feel deeply uncomfortable.
Impostor syndrome also tends to intensify in these moments. The fear of not being legitimate, of being “found out” or of saying something wrong can become overwhelming when all eyes are on us. Moreover, to learn more about the physiological responses to the fear of judgment, I invite you to read this article.
How coaching can help you overcome public speaking anxiety
I assure you, public speaking anxiety can absolutely be overcome.
In my experience, confidence does not come from trying to become someone else. It comes from reconnecting to your own inner resources and learning how to feel safe expressing yourself visibly and authentically.
With the right support, coaching can help you:
- understand the root cause of your anxiety
- identify what triggers the panic
- calm the nervous system
- reduce the fear of being judged
- develop greater confidence and executive presence
- learn personalised strategies to feel more at ease when speaking
Every person is different. That’s why individual coaching is so powerful: rather than applying generic techniques, the work is adapted to your personal history, emotional responses and professional challenges.
I recently worked with a senior manager who had avoided speaking opportunities for years after a humiliating experience at school. After several coaching sessions, she was able to deliver an important international presentation with far greater calm, confidence and authenticity.
The coaching tools I use
Over the past 14 years, I have trained in several complementary approaches that allow me to adapt my coaching to the individual needs of each client.
1. Ericksonian hypnosis
When we are anxious, our inner critic often becomes extremely loud:
“You’re not good enough.”
“You’re going to fail.”
“People will judge you.”
Hypnosis helps quieten those internal voices and allows you to access your subconscious mind in a calmer, more resourceful state.
It can help you let go of limiting beliefs, reconnect with confidence and mentally rehearse a more positive future outcome. I have seen this tool create profound and long-lasting shifts for many clients.
You can discover one of my visualisation techniques here.
2. EMDR-inspired techniques
Sometimes, the fear of public speaking is linked to a particularly distressing memory or experience that still carries a strong emotional charge.
Although I do not work on trauma itself – which falls within the role of qualified psychologists – I do use EMDR-inspired techniques to help clients revisit difficult experiences in a safe and supportive environment, reduce their emotional impact and create new, more empowering associations.
This work can also help clients project themselves into future speaking situations with greater calm and confidence.
3. Family constellations
In some situations, our fears may be connected to deeper family patterns or unconscious beliefs inherited through our upbringing and personal history.
Family constellations can help uncover hidden dynamics that may unconsciously affect self-expression, visibility or confidence.
When appropriate, this approach can help clients free themselves from deeply rooted patterns that no longer serve them.
Speaking with confidence and authenticity
All these tools have their rightful place within the coaching process, and my experience has taught me that there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution.
The aim is not simply to help you become a more impactful public speaker. It is to help you feel calm, legitimate and authentic when you speak. Speaking in public should not feel like a moment of survival. Instead, it can become a moment of connection, confidence and genuine impact.
Whether English is your native language or not, I would be delighted to support you in developing greater serenity, confidence and presence in your professional communication.
If public speaking anxiety is holding you back professionally, coaching can help you develop greater confidence, impact and authenticity in your presentations, meetings and professional communication.
Contact Me
Do you want to speak with greater confidence and stop letting public speaking anxiety hold you back?
I work with professionals who want to overcome the fear of being judged, speak with greater impact and feel more authentic and at ease when communicating publicly.
Contact me to discuss how personalised coaching can help you develop greater confidence, visibility and serenity in your professional communication.
