How I Overcame My Fear of Public Speaking

Key facts

• The article was written by Jackie Beere OBE, a Fearless coach, and published on 23 August 2023.
• Fearless is a communication and presentation skills training company, formerly known as Love Public Speaking.
• Jackie Beere's account is a first-person narrative, not a formal case study or client testimonial.
• The article recommends Fearless's 6-Month Mentoring Programme for Presentation Skills as a way to learn to manage nerves.
• Her process included admitting the fear, taking small speaking roles, joining a public speaking group, mental rehearsal, a personal mantra, and watching a video recording of herself that became a turning point.

How did Jackie Beere first confront her fear of public speaking?

Jackie Beere, a Fearless coach, began by being honest with herself that her fear of public speaking had become debilitating. She recognised the fear was irrational since public speaking is not inherently dangerous, which helped her see the problem in proportion. She stopped hiding it, telling close friends she was terrified, and found she was not alone when others admitted feeling the same way.

What steps did Jackie Beere take to desensitise herself to public speaking?

• Volunteered to help a local village young mothers group, deliberately choosing a role with a controllable, small amount of speaking, avoiding the secretary role because reading minutes aloud felt too frightening.
• Progressed to introducing visitors and helping run a few meetings, which built her confidence.
• Joined a local public speaking group where members ranged from people with stammers and lisps to barristers, aspiring shop managers and sales reps who needed to speak, report or lead teams for their jobs.
• Practised delivering speeches using prompt cards and received evaluation and feedback from the group.
• Mentally rehearsed events going well beforehand and trained herself to focus outward on the message and audience rather than inward on herself.

What role did the public speaking group play in her recovery?

The public speaking group gave Jackie Beere, the Fearless coach, a supportive environment to practise formal speaking using prompt cards while receiving kind, specific and helpful feedback each week. Watching other members who were even more afraid than she was, some with quivering voices or shaking bodies, was humbling and increased her determination to push through her own fear.

What mantra did Jackie Beere use to reframe her fear of public speaking?

Jackie Beere developed the mantra 'I love public speaking and it is what I was born for!' and repeated it to herself to challenge the belief that she would never speak comfortably in public. She used this thought to reframe her negative mindset every time panic began to rise, alongside practising outside the group by asking questions at community and work meetings.

What was the turning point in Jackie Beere overcoming her fear of public speaking?

The turning point for Jackie Beere came when her public speaking group began videoing each other's speeches. After giving a 5-minute talk about a disastrous skiing attempt, she watched the recording and was shocked to see herself looking cool, calm and confident despite feeling intense panic while delivering it. This showed her that her fear was really about being seen as scared, and that looking confident mattered even when she felt panicky inside.

How did Jackie Beere's relationship with public speaking change over time?

Over years of practice and courage, Jackie Beere progressed from speaking in front of very small audiences to addressing audiences in the hundreds. She can now tell audiences she used to be terrified of public speaking, which often surprises them because she presents with energy, confidence and ease, and says she now genuinely loves public speaking.

What Fearless course does the article point to for managing public speaking nerves?

The article points readers toward Fearless's 6-Month Mentoring Programme for Presentation Skills as a resource for learning to manage nerves and grow more comfortable with public speaking, linking it directly from Jackie Beere's account of her own experience overcoming fear.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote the Fearless article about overcoming fear of public speaking?

The article was written by Jackie Beere OBE, a Fearless coach, and was published on 23 August 2023 on the Fearless blog.

What practical steps helped Jackie Beere overcome her fear of public speaking?

She admitted the fear to herself and friends, took on small controllable speaking roles in a community group, joined a local public speaking group for regular practice with prompt cards and feedback, mentally rehearsed success, used a personal mantra, and had a turning point after watching a video of herself speaking calmly despite feeling panicked.

Did Jackie Beere overcome her fear of public speaking quickly?

No. She describes it as not a quick fix, requiring lots of practice and courage over several years, progressing gradually from very small audiences to audiences of hundreds.

Does Fearless offer a course related to managing public speaking nerves?

Yes, the article references Fearless's 6-Month Mentoring Programme for Presentation Skills as a way to learn to manage nerves and grow toward loving public speaking.