How do you handle fear from public speaking when pitching the product or giving a presentation?

1. Read aloud : anything & everything - from Shakespeare to Product Hunt Blogs (btw at times, exercise caution on the content though)
   

2. Consider joining a local theatre group: it will train you in voice modulation, breath control, and expressive pauses.
   

3. Observe professional speakers: news anchors, for example, can be great to study for clarity and confidence (again exercise caution on how-much you consume them).
   

4. Learn a rhythm instrument: drumming, tabla, or similar. This can help with pace, rhythm, and steady breathing while speaking.
   

5. Practice mouth opening exercises : singers sometimes use a simple “two-finger” mouth-opening routine to loosen up and reduce stammering. Try and talk loud doing so.
   

6. Mind-map your ideas: instead of writing them linearly, sketch them out on a whiteboard. Rearrange them, then practice explaining them aloud, adjusting as you find weak spots.
   

7. Be Shameless: Embrace discomfort - being willing to feel awkward and push through it is the most valuable practice of all.

I went from absolutely never wanting to be on stage to delivering 3 TEDx talks and several keynotes. In fact, I now enjoy public speaking. English is not my first language.

Following are the key things to remember:

1. People don't remember facts. People remember how you made them feel. No one remembers your life-changing tips, hacks, insights or frameworks.

2. Stories win over facts. If you have to share facts, build a story around it.

3. No one knows you made mistakes during presentation. Only you do. Everything is in your mind. If you know you made a mistake; ignore it. Just continue with a smile.

4. Always talk as if you are talking to one person in the audience. Ask questions to individual. Instead of asking "How many of you love cats?", rephrase is to "Tell me, do you love cats?". Audience feels like you are talking to them, not everyone.

5. Don't try to be someone else. Just be yourself on stage.

I hope someone will find this useful.

Public speaking is easy, just prep enough, knowing it will be recorded for all time, that is hard. Maybe easier for the genZ growing up posting on tiktok on a daily basis etc.

After I went on stage for the first time (during school), the fear was gone.

What I ensure is that I know the topic very well. Recently, someone asked me to address an audience on a topic i was not fully comfortable with and I politely declined.

Also, I note the points on 1 small flash card. Typically, you would have 5-10 points max and i note 1-2 words per point so that I don't miss any.

The real problem is when you have to really squeeze it in a very short time e.g. 2-3 mins. That's when you have to practice quite a bit. If it's 5 mins + then no problem.

@busmark_w_nika

"Fear of public speaking? Yeah, been there. Truth is, it never completely goes away—and that's okay. But here’s how I handle it when I’m pitching a product or giving a tech presentation:

1. Know your stuff cold – When you're confident in your product and tech, half the fear fades. I dive deep into the solution I’m presenting—so if questions come, I’m ready.

2. Rehearse smart, not just hard – I don’t just memorize slides. I practice talking about the value—how it solves a real problem. I even rehearse in front of a mirror or record myself. That’s brutal honesty, but it works.

3. Shift the mindset – I stopped thinking of it as “me vs audience.” Instead, I treat it like a conversation. They’re here to learn something, and I’m just sharing what I know.

4. Control the breath, not the fear – Deep, controlled breathing keeps my voice steady and clears the fog in my head. No tech needed—just a few calm breaths before stepping up.

5. Start strong, end stronger – I lock in a confident opening line and a powerful closing takeaway. That structure keeps me focused even if I trip somewhere in the middle.

Fear's natural. But I treat it like background noise—acknowledge it, then focus on the mission: delivering clarity, value, and confidence."

I think it's worth remembering that we are our own worst judges. It's good to ask ourselves a question: "What am I afraid of"?
That I am not good enough: then practice
That they will judge me: even if they will, people mostly care about themselves, they will forget rather quickly
Most important is to remember to have fun and enjoy the process.

Thanks for these practical tips, Nika! Your point about 'we're always selling ourselves' really hits home.

Funny enough, even after teaching for years, I still get butterflies with more than 3 people watching! Cameras somehow make it worse - my brain goes 'this is permanent!' and I flub lines I've practiced 10 times. 😅

But here's what saved me: After the initial nervous minutes, I'd remember why I was there - not to perform, but to share something useful. That mental shift from 'don't mess up' to 'help them understand' was game-changing. The energy often flipped completely once I got into flow.

Maybe the real secret is accepting the nerves rather than fighting them? They never fully go away, but they can become fuel if we frame it right.

I'm still working on my camera presence though - your grimace exercises might be my new pre-roll ritual! 😄

I think it's a matter of practice, after a couple of serious speeches you already understand that there is nothing to be afraid of and you can confidently say what you need to say

Funny how I can walk through a product demo with a dozen people live, no problem. But as soon as I hit record for a video, I overthink everything.

I used to rewatch the takes and pick apart every ramble. Now I try to get one clean version, close my eyes, and hit publish before I talk myself out of it.

Public speaking’s the same. I’m fine with small groups, the interaction makes it feel natural. Bigger the room, the harder it gets. I'd keep a bullet card in hand, but honestly, the more I prepare, the worse it gets. Feels forced. I need to talk, not recite.

I think a lot of people feel nervous about public speaking, especially when pitching a product or asking for testimonials. Here are a few things that help me:

• Practice out loud, not just in your head. It helps me get used to my own voice and spot what I can improve.

• Don’t rush. If you need a moment to think during your presentation, it’s fine to pause and collect your thoughts. Taking your time actually makes you sound more confident.

• Start with a short, interesting story or a relevant anecdote. If you can see people are intrigued right from the start, it really boosts your confidence as you go on. For example, when I asked for video testimonials, I shared a quick story about my own first awkward experience on camera. People related to it, and it made the whole process feel more relaxed.

• If you’re nervous, try to reframe it as excitement to share something valuable.

Facing the fear gets easier with practice, and connecting with your audience early on makes a big difference.

From my perspective, most people fear public speaking because they’re afraid of being judged, making mistakes, or saying something that could reflect poorly on themselves or the organization they represent. Here’s how I deal with it:

1. Know Your Audience: The first rule is to understand who you're speaking to—their age, background, level of expertise. The better you know your audience, the easier it is to tailor your message to what they care about.

2. Focus on Your Core Message: What’s the key takeaway you want to deliver? Many people use overly fancy language or pack in too many examples, but their core message gets lost. When preparing your talk, constantly ask yourself: Am I staying true to my main point?

3. Be Yourself: Don’t spend hours trying to mimic how great speakers talk—just be you. You’re human, with strengths and flaws. It’s okay to admit you’re nervous or feeling awkward. People appreciate authenticity.

4. Train for Clarity, Not Perfection: The one thing worth rehearsing is speaking clearly—articulating each word at a steady, natural pace. Not too fast, not too slow.