I get calls all the time from people who want presentation skills coaching because they’re terrified of public speaking. And I do mean terrified.

In my own research with 800 people, 80% admitted they had experienced a fear of public speaking at some point in their lives.

For some people it’s butterflies before they stand up. For others, the fear is debilitating enough to affect the opportunities they pursue and the way they progress in their careers.

I’ve seen just how serious it can become.

David wouldn’t even get on the plane

David was booked to fly from Melbourne to Sydney to attend my Persuasive Presentation Skills Masterclass. The thought of having to stand up and speak in front of other people frightened him so much that he couldn’t make himself get on the plane.

Eventually, David did make it to my Masterclass. Afterwards, he declared himself “cured” and went on to speak brilliantly at plenty of company events.

Then there was Matt, who won a Telstra award but didn’t want to accept it because he would have to make an acceptance speech. After developing his presentation skills, Matt accepted his speech and then went on to speak to audiences of more than 15,000 people at a time!

And June had fainted three times while presenting in front of the same colleagues. Her difficulties were affecting the way she was perceived at work, and she was facing the possibility of being managed out. June was cured! She went on to take up a management role in New York.

These are dramatic examples, but they demonstrate something I’ve seen repeatedly throughout my career: you don’t have to spend your working life frightened of public speaking. Please don’t! Life is too short to be frightened of public speaking.

Not all public speaking training is equal

Here’s where I’m going to be a little controversial. If you’re genuinely frightened of presenting, please don’t choose public speaking training based purely on price. And if you’re selecting corporate public speaking training for your people, don’t automatically choose the company with the slickest salesperson or prettiest proposal.

Look at the trainer who will actually be in the room. How experienced are they? Do they understand what it’s like to work with someone who is genuinely frightened? Will you get plenty of practice and individual feedback? Most importantly, can they show you examples of people they’ve actually helped?

I’ve delivered my Persuasive Presentation Skills Masterclass more than 1,080 times, and I have case studies galore of people who have transformed the way they present.

That experience matters when someone walks into the room feeling terrified.

What is your fear already costing you?

People looking for public speaking training in Sydney and Melbourne often tell themselves they’ll deal with their fear later. They put it off until the 12th of never. Then comes the unexpected Board presentation, promotion, client pitch or industry conference. Perhaps it’s even an award you’ve earned but are too frightened to collect.

David eventually got on the plane. Matt stood in front of 15,000 people. June rebuilt her confidence and took her career to New York.

Your story doesn’t need to be that dramatic but if fear of public speaking is already affecting the opportunities you pursue, please don’t keep putting it off.

These skills can be learned.

Explore my public speaking training and upcoming Persuasive Presentation Skills Masterclasses here.