How To Overcome Common Public Speaking Challenges: Coaching Insights

Many leadership coaching clients think the biggest challenges facing them in becoming a compelling public speaker include polishing their presence or perfecting their slide deck. The real obstacles usually reside somewhere less visible. Unclear thinking, message overload and fear of judgment can quietly undermine even the most experienced executives when it’s time to present to an audience.

Below, our founder Kathy Shanley joins members of the Forbes Coaches Council to share strategies to help leaders overcome common stumbling blocks for public speakers by clarifying what they actually want to say and why it matters. Read on for insights into how coaches guide their clients in developing confidence that signals real credibility to ensure their speeches land with audiences.

Challenge Your Inner Critic With Evidence

The most common challenge isn’t presentation skill—it’s the speaker’s inner critic. Many know how to present, but fear-driven self-talk like “I’m not good enough” or “I’m going to fail” takes over. Coaching focuses on challenging those thoughts and asking what belief would make the biggest difference, then replacing doubt with facts: They were asked to speak because of their expertise and credibility. - Kathleen Shanley, Statice

Read it on Forbes.