Building Confidence for Public Speaking in Engineering

THE FEAR WAS REAL! Before I became an experienced speaker, I was just like anyone else who feared public speaking. Back in school, I would hide behind my book, dreading being asked to read the next sentence or chapter in the book! The fear of mispronouncing words was overwhelming. At my first speaking gig, with over a hundred professionals in the audience, my hands were clammy, my heart raced. I was terrified! But that fear transformed the moment I stepped on stage. The applause and engagement fired me up, and the positive feedback afterwards was motivating. I knew I had to find a way to enjoy the experience without the anxiety and nerves. Here’s how I prepared myself to face and beat my stage nerves: ONE ↳ Affirmations and gratitude - I started my days with affirmations specific to beat my fear of public speaking and wrote in my gratitude journal. This boosted my confidence and put my mind in a positive space. TWO ↳Relentless practice - There’s no substitute for practice. I rehearsed my talks thoroughly, which helped me feel more prepared and significantly reduced my anxiety. THREE ↳Physical warm-up -  On the advice of my mentor, I began doing 10-star jumps backstage before any speaking event. This physical activity shifted my mindset and pumped up my energy levels, getting me ready for the stage. FOUR ↳Mindful breathing - Taking deep breaths in a quiet 'green room' before going on helped me ground myself and calm my nerves. FIVE ↳Powerful posture - I focused on maintaining a strong body posture; shoulders back, standing tall. This physical stance helped give me a feeling of confidence and control throughout my body. And guess what? It works. These strategies have allowed me to transform my initial nervousness into a vibrant energy that enhances my speaking. Now, each time I’m about to go on stage, I run through these steps, ready to take on the challenge. Now, every stage appearance begins with excitement, not dread. Implementing these techniques regularly has not only made speaking enjoyable but also something I look forward to. Each performance is an opportunity to share, connect, and inspire. To anyone struggling with stage fright: It’s okay to feel nervous. With the right preparation and mindset, you can turn those jitters into a powerful presentation. Believe in yourself! You can rock the stage like I do now. To your successes, Zoe p.s 📸 The picture is my first international talk in Warsaw, Poland, to Direct Selling Companies and the European Parliament & Government at the Seldia | The European Direct Selling Association conference. ____________ If you like this post, you will love my newsletter 💜 Join my newsletter for a FREE weekly growth strategy for speakers and thought leaders - see the first comment below to join 👇

“Just speak up more” is a terrible advice. Here’s a step-wise guide to build visibility if you’re starting from Zero: Many introverts live with a quiet frustration of invisibility everyday. NOT because they don't have what it takes But they were never taught how visibility actually works. I spent almost 30 years staying invisible. In 2025.. I’ve spoken in front of 300+ audiences 3 times without the old anxiety running the show.. The shift wasn’t “be more confident" or "Speak louder" 🚫 Here’s exactly how I’d build visibility and get promoted through public speaking (if I had to start from zero): 1. Admit the real issue → not lack of skill, but fear of being exposed 2. Stop calling it “confidence problem” → it’s nervous system threat response 3. Expect & embrace initial spike of nerves → everyone experiences it 4. If anxiety keeps returning → identify root causes, not surface symptoms 5. Address anxiety triggers bfore learning more skills (don't reverse the order) 6. Kill the myth early → “good work speaks for itself” (it just whispers) 7. Realize cost of invisibility → missed promos, stolen ideas, vague feedback 8. Redefine public speaking → meetings, updates, opinions, reviews 9. Identify where promotions are shaped → recurring leadership convos. 10. Pick 1–2 rooms that matter → staff meeting, sprint review, leadership sync 11. Build visibility there → repetition beats one-off act of bravery 12. Stop "faking" confidence → aim to sound clear and present 13. Stop copying extroverts → visibility ≠ volume. visibility ≠ noise. 14. Speak within first 5–10 minutes → don’t wait for permission 15. Replace “Do they like me?” → with “What value can I add?” 16. Maintain eye contact 3-5 seconds → like you’re conversing with them 1-1 17. Prepare points, not scripts → use examples, analogies, stories 18. Rehearse strategically → never memorize word-for-word 19. Practice out loud → physically moving as if in front of audience 20. Minimal text on slide → use it as visual aid, not the main thing 21. Use this framework for Updates → What. So what. Now what. 22. When caught off-guard → Use PREP: Point. Reason. Example. Point. 23. Make one grounded contribution per meeting → micro-wins compound 24. Normalize imperfect delivery → don’t sweat every single filler word 25. Track progress differently → Being in-control > perfect delivery 26. Make public speaking part of identity → “this is how I contribute” 27. Stay consistent → promotions reward patterns, not one-off moments 28. Learn from someone who’s done it before 29. (Do you wanna add anything?) This is how I'd do it if I had start from zero. (No Fake-It-Till-You-Make-It BS 😃) But you must not forget this: Be intentional and make it part of your daily life. You will remain invisible and stuck if you keep waiting for your work to speak for itself. 💾 Save it for future reference ♻️ Share it with your network ➕ Follow Waqas, P. to gain visibility with public speaking.

19 years ago I was terrified of public speaking. Today, 50% of my income comes from being on stages. Over the years, I've discovered that the secret isn't confidence - it's brain chemistry. Here's the pre-presentation routine I use to optimize my brain: My routine has 3 simple steps: 1. Music: I have a specific "pump up" playlist with songs that remind me of past wins. A PNAS study shows that the right music can shift dopamine activity in your brain’s reward system.   2. Win Words: I use achievement-oriented language in my self-talk.   3. Laughter: Right before presentations, I watch my favorite comedian. Laughing opens your body, improves breathing, and lowers your vocal register (crucial for women, beneficial for everyone). When your body shifts into a “winner state,” your brain follows suit. And the science backs it up (your big three chemicals actually do push you toward better performance): Testosterone → Confident decision-making, competitive focus, and social assertiveness (Batrinos, 2012) Dopamine → Drives motivation, makes action feel rewarding, and boosts your willingness to move toward goals (Bromberg-Martin et al., 2010) Serotonin → Stabilizes mood, lowers anxiety, and helps you stay calm and grounded in social situations (Lin et al., 2014) When these three systems are aligned, your brain naturally shifts toward: - clearer thinking - better presence - smoother, more confident communication PS: Save this post and come back to it before your next presentation!

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲, 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗠𝘆 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲, 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗼 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗸, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜’𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 Fast forward to now — I’ve spoken confidently on stage in front of hundreds. So what changed? Not my personality — just my approach. Here’s the step-by-step plan I used to build my speaking skills from scratch👇 1️⃣ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 I didn’t jump into public speaking right away. I started by practicing alone, recording myself talking about simple topics. Listening to my recordings helped me spot areas to improve — tone, pace, and clarity. It felt silly at first, but hearing myself speak made me more comfortable with my own voice. 2️⃣ 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗨𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 I began contributing in small group discussions and class presentations. Even just asking a question in a classroom helped me get used to hearing my own voice in public. The key was to make speaking a habit rather than a rare event. 3️⃣ 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 I joined my college’s theater club, where I could experiment without fear of judgment. Whether it was small rehearsals or larger performances, every step boosted my confidence. Being part of a group that valued expression over perfection was a game-changer. 4️⃣ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 I stopped trying to sound “perfect” and focused on telling a story. Sharing my own experiences made me feel more authentic and less rehearsed. I practiced weaving in anecdotes, emotions, and pauses — things that make speeches feel human. 5️⃣ 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 The turning point was realizing that nervousness isn’t a bad thing. I reframed it as excitement and used it to add energy to my words. Instead of hiding my anxiety, I acknowledged it — and found that honesty made me more relatable. 6️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 — 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗚𝗼 𝗕𝗶𝗴 My first “public” speaking gig? A 2-minute intro at a small college event. From there, I kept volunteering for bigger opportunities — club events, seminars, and finally, large-scale functions. With each experience, my comfort zone expanded. 7️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻, 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁 After every speaking opportunity, I asked for feedback — and listened without getting defensive. I noted what worked (and what didn’t) to refine my approach. Speaking is a skill, not a talent — every attempt makes you better. If you’re scared to speak up — remember, confidence isn’t the absence of fear. It’s the willingness to push through it. I started from scratch, just like anyone else. You can too. LinkedIn LinkedIn News India #PublicSpeaking #ConfidenceBuilding #StagePresence #PersonalGrowth #CareerSkills

𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨. 😬 But I turned that fear into my superpower — and you can too. 🦹 Next month alone, I’m speaking at 13 events, including the University of California, Berkeley, Pear VC, HBS Women's Association, Plug and Play Tech Center, and Ubiquity Ventures. In the past few months, I’ve spoken at Amazon AWS GenAI, Product Leadership Summit, Maven, Guild, and more — some paid, some unpaid; all on topics I deeply care about and have knowledge of and to the audiences that are eager for my thoughts. Now here's the truth: English is my second language. 😍 I came to the U.S. for undergrad, and early in my career, public speaking felt impossible. I vividly remember my first college speech class 🤯 — it took me dozens of tries to deliver a single paragraph. I wasn’t good. Not even close. 🫣 But I had two things: 🔹 An obsession with growth 🔹 A commitment to excellence I wanted to share my ideas with the world — and I refused to let fear or language barriers stop me. ✋ Today, I give keynotes to packed rooms. It feels energizing, even effortless. But behind that “ease” is 20+ years of hard work and hard-won lessons. Here are 5 lessons that helped me become a confident, powerful speaker, especially for those who feel like they’re not “naturals”: 🗣️ 1. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 (or any language)- It's about clear ideas. People don’t remember grammar; they remember impact. Be clear! Be authentic! Say something that matters. 🧘♀️ 2. 𝐍𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 - use them as fuel. Even the best speakers get butterflies 🦋. Don’t suppress the nerves — channel them into energy and presence. 📚 3. 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 - No one’s born a great speaker. You become one by showing up, over and over again. Speak in meetings, on panels, in small rooms or big ones — every rep counts. 🪞 4. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 - Watch it. Learn. Grow. It’s awkward — but incredibly effective. You’ll catch your filler words, pacing, and habits that you’d never notice otherwise. 💬 5. 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 - People only remember your stories. Data informs. Stories move. Research shows that people forget data but remember the stories. ❓What's been your experience with public speaking? ❓Do you fear it or are you fueled by it? 👉 If you've gotten better with public speaking over time, share your experiences with others below, so they can learn from you. 👉 Share your reaction to this conversation and experiences with public speaking below. #publicspeaking #keynote

From being a stammerer filled with stage fright to delivering 100+ speeches in 4 years! Here are 10 things I did to train myself to be the best at it: 🎤 Practice Small Chunks: Break your speech into smaller sections and practice each part separately before combining them. This makes it easier to remember and reduces anxiety. 🎤 Record and Review: Record your practice sessions using your phone or a camera. Reviewing these recordings helps identify areas for improvement and track progress over time. 🎤 Gradual Exposure: Start by speaking in front of a mirror, then progress to speaking in front of a small group of friends or family, and gradually increase the audience size. This helps build confidence step-by-step. 🎤 Use Flashcards: Write key points or parts of your speech on flashcards. This helps you stay on track during your speech and reduces the fear of forgetting your lines. 🎤 Join Speaking Clubs: Participate in public speaking clubs like Toastmasters. Regular practice in a supportive environment helps you gain confidence and receive constructive feedback. 🎤 Practice with Distractions: Train yourself to stay focused by practicing your speech in environments with potential distractions, such as a noisy room or with background music playing. 🎤 Mirror Neurons: Watch videos of great speakers and try to mimic their body language and speaking style. This activates your mirror neurons, helping you learn by imitation. 🎤 Mindful Breathing: Before speaking, take deep breaths in for a count of four, hold for four, and exhale for four. This helps calm your nerves and centre your mind. 🎤 Positive Visualization: Spend a few minutes each day visualizing yourself giving a successful speech. Picture the audience applauding and yourself speaking confidently. This mental rehearsal can boost your confidence. 🎤 Use Technology: Utilize speech practice apps that provide real-time feedback on your speaking speed, volume, and clarity. This helps you adjust and improve your delivery. When I learned these lessons, I realized that public speaking wasn't something to fear but something to celebrate. To be able to reach more people and create a long-lasting impact! So, if you're struggling like I was, start training your brain. It's not easy, but it's worth it. ❤️ #publicspeaking #growth #communication #softskills

I see smart, driven people hold themselves back with bad public speaking and it kills me because it is a learnable set of skills! You will not magically get better at it, but you can improve. Here are 4 high-impact steps: 1) Seize your chance to speak 2) Speak effectively 3) Answer questions well 4) Have a growth mindset Here are some details on each: 1) You can get your chance to speak in a few different ways. First, arrive to each meeting with a one-minute opening line that you have practiced. This line should be a quick framing of the purpose, decision, and risks that will be discussed in the meeting. This way, when you get your chance to speak, you will know what to say. Then, at some point in the first five minutes of the meeting, claim a turn to speak by saying “If I may, let me frame this so we can decide.” Then give your one-liner. You do not have to use these words! The point is, if you struggle to speak, don't make yourself also struggle with what to say when the time comes. Plan your words ahead of time so that you can focus all of your energy on seizing your chance to break in and speak. 2) Speaking effectively requires you to tailor your message to the audience: get to the point with executives and invite thoughtful additions from peers. Avoid common traps like burying the lead, hedging, or monologuing. State the decision upfront, use confident language, focus on one key number or point, and pause to let silence work for you. Close cleanly by summarizing decisions, owners, and timelines so your message lands and drives action. 3) Answer questions confidently by starting with a clear answer: yes, no, or a number. Then give necessary context. If you don’t know something, say so clearly and commit to a follow-up. If you need to think, say “let me think about that.” Coordinate your team to step in and strengthen your responses where they are domain experts. 4) Public speaking is a learned skill, and the fastest way to improve is through deliberate practice. Methods of deliberate practice include teaching, streaming, or putting yourself in any setting where you must speak clearly and handle live questions. You can also improve by studying strong speakers, rehearsing short openers, strong answers, and crisp closing sentences. After every public speaking opportunity you have, you should also take two minutes to debrief what worked and what didn’t, because small changes will compound into rapid improvement. If you want to learn more tips that can make this improvement compound even faster, read today’s newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gaQheVHf

Public speaking isn’t one skill. It’s a stack of smaller ones we can practice. Speaking up in meetings. Presenting to clients. Running a workshop. For some people, it’s exciting. But for a lot, it's sweaty palms, a racing heart, and a mind that goes blank. And yet, we’re all just meant to be good at it. Confidence in public speaking is a skill you build. But instead of treating it like a skill we can practise, we wait for the big presentation or all-hands to "finally get confident". Here’s a better way to build it, one small step at a time through a bit of a confidence ladder: Step 1️⃣: Low-stakes skill-building - Start with contribution-first challenges. Speak up once in every meeting for a week - even if it’s just to summarise or ask a question - Run part of your presentation past a teammate before the real thing - Record a 60-second voice memo to hear your pace and tone Step 2️⃣: Mid-stakes skill-expanding - Present for 2–3 minutes without slides or notes (focus on structure and flow) - Take a few spontaneous questions in your next meeting, it gets you better at thinking on your feet - Change the audience mix: Volunteer to share an update with a cross-functional group where you don’t know everyone well. Step 3️⃣: High-stakes - performing under the spotlight - Do a full timed run-through with no pausing, no restarts - Memorise your first 1–2 lines so you start strong - Afterward, debrief: one thing you nailed, one thing to improve from someone you trust in the audience I think the goal here is to focus on what you can control - your timing, your start, and some learning - so you walk in feeling prepared and walk out with a plan to get better. If you’re working on this too, there's a couple of quick Learna lessons I’d recommend from experts who have really helped me with this skill: 🧠 'How to structure your thoughts under pressure' by Arabella Macpherson: https://lnkd.in/gu_ryX6J 💬 'Tell stories that stick' by Dominic Price: https://lnkd.in/g7Pj4q7w Jump into the App Store and download Learna to check these out. It’s a skill where I think progress comes from the little reps and the process behind the scenes, not the big moments. #publicspeaking #microlearning #peopleskills