Public Speaking Challenges & How To Overcome Them

Does public speaking make you nervous? You’re not alone.

Fear of public speaking ranks among the biggest fears in the world. Even experienced speakers face obstacles—stage fright, losing their audience, forgetting their words, or speaking too fast.

But the good news? Every public speaking challenge has a solution.

This SlideShare breaks down the most common public speaking struggles and exactly how to overcome them, so you can step on stage with confidence, engage your audience, and deliver a message that lands.

1. Nervousness & Stage Fright
🛑 The Problem: You’re sweating, your heart is racing, and your mind blanks the second you step in front of an audience. Stage fright is real.

✅ The Fix:
✔️ Use box breathing (breathe in for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4) to calm your system.
✔️ Reframe nerves as excitement. Your body doesn’t know the difference between fear and excitement—so tell yourself, "I'm excited!"
✔️ Practice under pressure. Rehearse in front of friends, record yourself, or practice in an empty room knowing others might hear you.

🎤 Pro Tip: Even the best speakers get nervous—but they use that energy to enhance their performance.

2. Losing Your Audience’s Attention
🛑 The Problem: You start strong, but halfway through, people check their phones, whisper, or zone out.

✅ The Fix:
✔️ Use storytelling—it makes your talk 22x more memorable than facts alone.
✔️ Ask engaging questions (but don’t answer them before the audience has a chance).
✔️ Change your tone and pace. No one enjoys a monotone speaker—inject energy and variation into your voice.

🎤 Pro Tip: If you feel your audience’s energy drop, shift gears—move, ask a question, or drop a punchline.

3. Forgetting What to Say
🛑 The Problem: You’re mid-talk, and suddenly—your mind goes blank. Panic sets in.

✅ The Fix:
✔️ Use a structured framework like the rule of three (three main points in your talk).
✔️ Memorize key transitions so you always know what’s next.
✔️ Pause instead of panicking. Own the silence—your audience won’t even realize you forgot something.
✔️ Use a saver line: "Sheesh, my brain just blanked before my best point! What was I talking about again?"

🎤 Pro Tip: If you get lost, go back to your key takeaway and redirect your focus.

4. Speaking Too Fast
🛑 The Problem: You start talking, and suddenly—it’s like you’re on 2x speed. Your words blur together, and your audience struggles to keep up.

✅ The Fix:
✔️ Use intentional pauses to slow down and add impact.
✔️ Practice with a metronome (musicians use them, and so should speakers!).
✔️ Record yourself speaking and adjust your speed.

🎤 Pro Tip: A well-placed pause makes you sound more confident and in control.

5. Lacking Confidence
🛑 The Problem: You second-guess yourself, worry about what people think, and feel like an imposter.

✅ The Fix:
✔️ Get a coach. If you’re serious about improving, learn from someone who knows what they’re doing.

1. Top Public Speaking Challenges (and How to Overcome Them) Master the skills to speak with confidence and impact

2. Nervousness and Stage Fright Problem: Your heart races, palms sweat, and your mind blanks before speaking. Fix: Channel nerves into energy: - Breathe deeply (box breathing) - Reframe nerves as excitement - Practice under pressure Pro Tip: Even top speakers get nervous—learn to use it to your advantage.

3. Losing Your Audience’s Attention Problem: People check phones, whisper, or zone out mid-talk. Fix: Keep engagement high: - Use storytelling (22x more memorable than facts) - Ask questions (and give time for answers!) - Change tone and pace for variety Pro Tip: If energy drops, shift gears—move, ask a question, or drop a punchline.

4. Forgetting What to Say Problem: Your mind goes blank mid-talk. Fix: Have a guiding structure: - Use the rule of three (three main points) - Memorize key transitions - Own the pause instead of panicking - Use a saver line: 'What was I talking about again?' Pro Tip: If lost, return to your key takeaway and refocus.

5. Speaking Too Fast Problem: Your words come out too quickly, making it hard to follow. Fix: Control your pace: - Use intentional pauses - Practice with a metronome for rhythm - Record yourself and adjust speed Pro Tip: A well-placed pause makes you sound confident and in control.

6. Lacking Confidence

7. Final Thoughts Public speaking challenges are real, but every challenge has a solution. Want to level up your speaking game? - Take a public speaking course - Work with a mentor who knows the craft - Keep practicing and refining your message Join the waitlist for my Magnetic Message Blueprint mini-course and master public speaking! 🚀