Afraid of Public Speaking? 5 Tips to Build Your Confidence

August 25, 2026

Public speaking consistently ranks among people’s biggest fears, yet most of us do some form of it in our professional lives every single day. Maybe not on a stage with a microphone or in a national television studio, but in Zoom meetings, client presentations, networking events and team regroups.

In public relations, communication is at the core of everything we do. That’s why earlier this year, our team invested in professional development focused on one skill that applies to every single one of us: public speaking.

We teamed up with Michael Esposito, a Hudson Valley native, keynote speaker, professional coach and founder of Amplifying Leadership, for a series of sessions focused on helping our team reach our public speaking goals and become more confident communicators.

His insights were too good to keep to ourselves, so we’ve shared some of our favorite lessons.

1. Slow down and pause:

Have you ever had a conversation with someone who used so many filler words – “um,” “uh,” “like” – that you lost track of what they were actually saying?

Removing filler words is one of the easiest ways to improve your communication, and the simplest way to do so is by learning to pause.

Pauses are more powerful than most people realize. A pause can help steady a shaky voice; it helps you breathe from your diaphragm, rather than your throat. Most importantly, it gives your message the space it needs to land. Meditation, deep breathing or a moment of silence can help you center before speaking. It doesn’t have to be a long period of time, either!

This is our number one takeaway because it applies to more than public speaking. It applies to communication as a whole.

2. Be intentional with what you listen to:

One of Michael’s most interesting lessons had nothing to do with standing on a stage or speaking at all. It starts with what we listen to. We often drown out our inner thoughts and fill the silence of a room with audio content – podcasts in the car, YouTube videos while cooking, music in the shower or audiobooks on a walk. What if we intentionally surrounded ourselves with speech styles or patterns we wanted to use ourselves?

Think about audiobooks – they don’t have filler words or awkward stumbles. By listening to a strong confident speaking voice, we’re training our ears and brains to listen to this perfect speech and do the same when we speak.

3. Your mindset matters:

One of the most powerful tips isn’t about posture, pacing or even the words to use; it’s centered around your mindset. When walking into an important meeting or presentation, it’s easy to spiral, get nervous and imagine the worst-case scenario. But a simple shift in mindset can change everything.

Instead of asking what could go wrong, ask yourself, “what can I give to this audience?” What value can I offer and what unique perspective do I have? Look to find a connection with your audience – why are you speaking to them and what do you have in common?

Your audience wants to hear from YOU. They are rooting for you, want you to succeed and are not your enemy. Approaching public speaking with this mindset lowers the pressure by taking the focus off of yourself.

4. Adapt to handling objections:

Public speaking isn’t always about standing at the podium. For us in PR, sometimes it looks like navigating tough conversations with clients, difficult media questions or responding to pushback. These situations can put a wrench in our plans, throw us off balance, derail our train of thought or blow up our calm, cool demeanor.

When objections arise, our first instinct doesn’t always have to be to defend ourselves or jump straight into problem-solving. Instead, start by acknowledging the other person’s perspective, because when people feel heard, they’re more likely to stay open in the conversation – empathy creates connection.

By showing vulnerability and recognizing the other person’s concerns, you create the space needed for trust. Having trust opens the door for meaningful dialogue, so that we are making our decisions with them in mind and achieving stronger outcomes for everyone involved.

In PR especially, strong communication isn’t about having the right answer; it’s about making sure people feel seen, heard and understood. Without it, we’re not able to communicate the right message.

When in doubt, you can borrow one of our go-to lines at Impact PR: “Our team will put our heads together after this meeting and get back to you!”

5. Shed your old self and grow:

Finally, the most powerful lesson – confidence!

When we get busy, we tend to show up for everyone but ourselves. But self-confidence is built through self-trust. Every time you follow through on a commitment to yourself, you’re improving your personal growth and strengthening self-trust, which is reflected in the way you speak. You carry yourself differently, communicate more confidently and feel grounded in your voice.

This growth doesn’t happen alone. Having a supportive accountability partner can make a huge difference when working on any personal growth skills – not just public speaking. We all need someone to offer honest, constructive feedback, identify areas of growth and celebrate our progress. Start by setting small goals and continuing to build on them every day.

Public speaking confidence isn’t built overnight or with five tips, though these are a great foundation to get you started. It’s built through practice, consistency and learning to trust yourself more and more each day.

This piece was authored by Impact PR & Communications’ Senior Account Executive, Isabella Paquette.