What do you do if your public speaking skills are holding back your career progression?

Remember that most audiences want you to do well. They want an engaging experience. Prioritize the audience - it’s about them, not you. Don’t worry about being perfect; just connect. I’m a speech coach with nearly 30 years of experience working with professionals in many industries. When my clients remember that they are human beings connecting with other human beings, the quality of their public speaking expands tremendously, while their nerves diminish significantly.

If your public speaking skills are holding back your career, the first step is to acknowledge the fear. Recognizing that fear of public speaking is common can help you approach it with more confidence. Instead of avoiding speaking opportunities, confront your anxiety by understanding its root cause. This self-awareness will allow you to work on improving your skills in a focused and effective way.

One of the interesting things I learned is that both fear and excitement trigger similar chemical responses. Both emotions are about facing something new or uncomfortable. However because we can decide how to interpret that discomfort. Some people find success by choosing to focus on the opportunity to speak rather than the fear. Relabeling your fear as excitement gives you a chance to use your adrenaline to energize you rather than drain you.

If public speaking was holding back my career, I'd treat it like any other skill to improve. I'd figure out what’s holding me back—confidence, nerves, or prep—and tackle it step by step. I’d start practicing in low-pressure settings, get feedback from trusted friends, and maybe take a class or join a group like Toastmasters. The more I practice, the easier it’ll get, and eventually, it’ll feel more natural. Growth happens when you push through discomfort.

El primer paso que todos debemos tener es reconocer el problema para poder dar las posibles soluciones. De ahí parte el tomar las posibles soluciones.

Recently, a speaker begged me for critical feedback. I would never have given it if she had not asked for it - the vast majority of people don't. The thing is, critical feedback will help you improve; far more than praise. Choose people you know to be honest to give you constructive criticism. They may also be specific about the aspects of your talk that they felt positive about, which will enable you to understand which parts you're good at as well as the parts you need to improve.

To improve your public speaking, seek constructive feedback from colleagues, mentors, or supervisors. Honest input from others will help you identify specific areas where you can improve. By addressing these areas, you can refine your speaking skills and become more confident in future presentations, which will positively impact your career growth.

Being part of a speaker community, where you can engage with other presenters, is an excellent way to enhance your public speaking skills. In such a community, you get the opportunity to practice regularly, gain valuable insights from peers, and receive constructive feedback that helps you refine your technique. Improving as a presenter is a journey—it requires consistent effort, time, and the willingness to adapt based on feedback. By surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals, you’ll find the motivation, support, and accountability needed to make meaningful progress and become a more confident, impactful speaker.

Convide um amigo ou colega para analisar sua apresentação e ajudar a identificar pontos de melhoria. Particularmente, sempre tive dificuldade em controlar a velocidade da fala e, até hoje, me esforço para manter isso em mente durante as apresentações. Por isso, crie estratégias que o ajudem a identificar e corrigir os pontos de melhoria.

Practice practice practice! Make stage your home, note your flaws, analyse, and then work hard to improve them. Remember, with each repetition, you get closer to delivering an influential speech that you'll be proud of.

As they say, practice makes perfect, as in every skill. So it was in public speaking: practice, always seek feedback from the audience, and self-reflect and assess things to make the next attempt better.

Consistent practice is key to overcoming public speaking challenges. Look for opportunities to speak in smaller, low-pressure settings before progressing to larger audiences. Regular practice helps build familiarity with speaking, reduces anxiety, and enhances your confidence. As you refine your skills, you will find that public speaking becomes less daunting, contributing to your overall career success.

¡Puedes incluso practicar contigo mismo! Dice una frase célebre que la única comparación que vale es la que hacemos con la versión de nosotros que fuimos ayer... Practica frente a tu espejo o usa las opciones de grabación de tus redes sociales, por ejemplo en Instagram puedes grabar un story de 1 minuto y así aprovechas y practicas el ser conciso con tus mensajes. Una vez que te sientas cómodo viéndote en cámara, pasa a publicarlas y pide feedback de quienes te sigan.

This is the most important step. Public speaking, just like any professional skill in your core domain expertise, needs to be developed through consistent practice and effort. To become a better speaker, we need to speak more and to get feedback on how to improve. Finding a mentor or coach can help. Joining a Toastmasters club can help. One of the common weaknesses of most speakers even at the C-suite level is the use of pause-fillers. I never really understood how it weakens your public speaking until I trained my ears (through regular Toastmasters meetings) to listen to the, "er", "erm", "so", "and" that are added before and during utterances made during public speaking. Learning from more accomplished speakers can also help.

It’s one thing to have expertise in your field, but mastering the art of presenting that knowledge is a whole other skill set. It’s so important to learn the “flavors and spices” of effective speaking—like tone, articulation, volume, and body language. These elements can make all the difference in how your message is received. The power of your voice and the way you carry yourself can either draw your audience in or push them away. Developing these skills is key to not just sharing your expertise but delivering it in a way that truly connects with and impacts your audience.

There are several programs to help. I founded The Speakers Collaborative for this very purpose. We are a two month program that takes you from novice to pro and gives you all you need to succeed.

If your public speaking skills are holding you back, consider hiring a speech coach or joining a public speaking organization like Toastmasters. Professional guidance can offer tailored feedback and techniques to help you improve.

There are so many great tools that can help us elevate our presentations, from video conferencing to presentation software that creates engaging visuals. But it’s not just about using tech—it’s about creating an experience for your audience. We’re not just educating; we’re "edutaining." However, technology isn’t foolproof, and things can go wrong. Being prepared to pivot in the moment when tech fails is crucial. Knowing how to keep the energy and connection alive, even without your slides or mic, is a skill that can make or break your presentation.

If my public speaking skills are holding back my career progression, I would embrace technology to enhance my abilities. I could utilize online platforms that offer courses and resources focused on public speaking techniques and presentation skills. Recording practice sessions and reviewing them can help me identify areas for improvement. Additionally, I would consider using virtual tools for feedback, such as peer review or online speaking groups, to gain insights and confidence. By leveraging technology, I can practice more effectively and refine my skills, ultimately boosting my confidence and career growth.