Picture yourself enjoying the smiles and the pleased looks of excitement on the faces of your audience. You are full of confidence, relishing the experience, and having a great time. When you finish speaking, you receive thunderous applause and warm congratulations. People feel compelled to shake your hand.

This could be your reality, and far sooner than you might imagine. Many people I have personally worked with saw a marked improvement in their public speaking skills in just minutes. Do not be fooled by the narrative that psychological change takes years. Simply put, it’s not true; the brain can adapt quickly.

If you are ready to become the best public speaker you can be, this could be the most important article you ever read. Let me explain with an example:

Some years ago, a presidential candidate visited me. Despite the certainty that he would inherit the presidency, he had a fear of public speaking. As he observed my large book collection, we struck an immediate connection, both being bibliophiles.

I asked him, “What brings you here?”

He confessed, “I have a fear of public speaking and cannot address millions of people. I need confidence, an expression of power, and the ability to ignite the desires and passions of my nation.”

“You don’t need confidence to do that,” I replied. He looked puzzled as I continued, “That doesn’t require confidence. Besides, you are being selfish. You might even be in the wrong profession.”

Startled and dumbfounded, he asked, “Why do you say that?”

I explained, “You have been blessed with this position of authority, but instead of focusing on your people, you are consumed by your own fears about how you might be perceived or how your body may react.”

I continued, “A simple shift in your attention can neutralise your anxiety.”

He protested, saying that even the finest public speaking training had not alleviated his fears.

To which I replied, “Public speaking doesn’t require extensive training. It’s about learning the etiquette and organising the information you want to deliver.”

“It’s just not that simple!” he responded.

Then I shared a personal experience with him. “Last night, I was heading to 5 Hertford Street in Mayfair to meet my significant other. I was super-excited and had so much to catch up on. On top of that, she loves to journal. To surprise her, I had picked up a personalised Aspinal Journal.

“She is involved in functional medicine and in the process of launching her first spa. I had new ideas to share, and I felt my suggestions would help. I didn’t need to rehearse what to say. I was not self-conscious about how I would come across in conversation, and I didn’t imagine all the worst scenarios. I couldn’t wait to see her and share my ideas. All I could think about was what an incredible night lay in front of us.”

“Two things were going on inside of me subconsciously: I felt optimistic and energetic. I was so excited to see her and share the latest news. I felt confident and secure. I did not need to build myself up to a peak state to speak to her.”

“I felt this way because my focus was not on how I was going to come across. My focus
was on what I could bring to her. In the same way, your confidence and positivity will
increase if you focus on how you are benefiting your audience, rather than focusing on
yourself.”

He finally grasped the point.