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

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.

@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."

A few years back I noticed that I can do some things only if I can do them quickly enough. Something like Mel Robbins' "5 second rule". So whenever possible I actively make myself act instantly.

Of course it's not always possible to do that as sometimes I have to "wait for my turn". In such situations I try to occupy my mind until I speak. So not actively wait, but rather actively do anything else.

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! 😄

Here is my two cents:

• Always know the core idea of your speech. If you forget a word or get distracted, it'll be much easier to get on track again when you keep your core idea and key story beats in mind.

• Find someone in the audience whom you like the most and tell the story specifically to them. Impress only this person with your charisma, storytelling, and presence. Others will react to your connection and will get involved too.

• Another version of the previous bullet: if you struggle to find someone who listens to you attentively, focus on telling the story to yourself first during a presentation. This gives confidence, because the best listener is yourself :)

• You run this show. No one knows what's next — they follow your narrative. You own the time and space. Fill them with your story.

• Be honest and sincere, don't try to be someone you're not. Your speech doesn't need to be perfect. You don't need to know the answers to all the questions. The simple "I'm so nervous to speak here" can make a huge difference.

Before I start, I will constantly give myself psychological hints, telling myself that I am the best, and then make myself confident.

I usually overcome my fear of public speaking by thoroughly familiarizing myself with the content. Once I feel confident in what I'm presenting, I can speak fluently and handle various questions with ease. To practice, I often rehearse multiple times in a quiet space where I won’t be interrupted. I also record myself to assess my performance and identify areas for improvement. This way, I can continuously enhance my fluency and emotional control during delivery.

1. Practice more: the more familiar you are with your presentation, the more confident you will be when you do that.

2. Find some friends, colleagues or teachers to help you: no matter help you build your confidence or improve your content.