"I Hate Public Speaking!" That was my first thought when I stepped away from the microphone from my most recent talk. Every little erm, cough and slip of the tongue whirled around my head with my inner voice telling me that I suck at this and I shouldn't bother.

Yet when the event was over several people came up to me telling me how much they enjoyed my presentation! And when I listened back to myself (Yes! I record myself for training and monitoring purposes.) I realised those thoughts' I was having when I just finished were completely unfounded.

If you are introverted and shy like me you probably know where I am coming from. Having low self esteem and self confidence can make us feel like everything we do, even the things we are quite good at, we suck at! Even when we have done a good job.

So how can we counteract that feeling of doubt and negativity? Here are three ways I have found work really well for me.

1. Set Yourself Up for Success!

I've been speaking from stages since fo...

We've all been there: the dreaded moment when you have to stand up and speak in front of a crowd. Your stomach churns, your palms sweat, and your mind races with thoughts of potential disaster. Speech anxiety is a common experience, stemming from our brain's natural "fight or flight" response to perceived threats. But the good news is that you can learn to manage and overcome this fear.

(If you'd like to watch my video on Overcoming Speech Anxiety Click Here)

Here are six practical tips to help you conquer your speech anxiety:

 1. Acceptance is Key

The first step is acknowledging that speech anxiety is a natural reaction. Everyone experiences it, even seasoned public speakers. Accepting this fact helps you normalise the feeling and reduces shame or self-judgment. Remember, those seemingly confident speakers have likely just learned effective coping mechanisms.