Speak without Fear #8
Small Habits, Big Impact
“The audience does not know.” These five words changed my life.
I still remember preparing for a speech, rehearsing nervously, worrying about forgetting a point or missing a line. A mentor whispered to me, “The audience does not know what you are supposed to say.” Suddenly, my stress melted. If I paused or skipped a line, only I knew it. As long as I stayed calm and composed, the audience would follow me wherever I led them.
That insight was my first real hack. A simple mental trick that instantly boosted my confidence.
In this article, I share a collection of small yet powerful hacks that helped me become a better speaker and communicator. These aren’t complicated tips that take years to master. They are simple, practical and something you can implement in your next speech or presentation.
Arrive Early
Walking into a packed room just minutes before you speak can send your nerves into an overdrive. Arriving early changes everything. You get to walk around, breathe in the space, test your slides, check where you will stand, chat with the tech person, and even have a quiet moment to yourself. The room begins to feel less intimidating.
Saying hello to a few early arrivals can also shift the dynamics. Suddenly, you are not speaking to a sea of unknown faces but talking to people you have already smiled at and become familiar.
Tech Check
One of my most nerve-wracking speaking moments was when the projection failed, the microphone did not work, and I stood there helpless while someone ran around to fix the problems. Lesson learnt. Since then, I always take a few minutes to check the sound, my presentation file, the clicker, and even the backup equipment.
Knowing everything is working gives you peace of mind, the foundation to speak confidently. I also send my slides to myself via email and carry them on a USB. A VGA cable comes handy at outside city locations. You just never know.
Stay Hydrated
Many people grab coffee before a presentation thinking it will keep them sharp. Too much caffeine makes your heart race, dries your throat, and can make you more anxious. I learned this after drinking a cup of coffee before a talk and ended up rushing my delivery and coughing through the session.
These days I stick to water. Sipping slowly a glass of water some 15–20 minutes beforehand and just before speaking has helped me tremendously. I avoid fried or heavy foods that make me sluggish. The difference in vocal clarity and energy is real.
Breathe
When you are nervous, your body hits the accelerator. Shallow breaths. Rapid heartbeat. Sweaty palms. There’s a simple ritual I do before stepping on stage. A few deep, deliberate slow breaths. It calms my nerves, slows my heart rate, and centres me. It’s not a dramatic exercise. Just inhale deeply, hold it briefly, then exhale slowly.
I often do this while sitting in the audience, waiting for my turn. No one notices. Even if someone does, I really don’t care. I walk up on to the speaking area feeling much more in control. The science backs it, but the real proof is in how grounded it makes you feel.
Pause
In my early days, I rushed through my speeches, fearing silence. I hated pausing. It felt like I was forgetting something or wasting time. However, I began noticing how seasoned speakers used pauses. After an important point, before a transition, or just to let something land. So, I started experimenting.
The first time I paused intentionally, I thought it felt too long. But later, someone came up and said, “I really liked how you gave us time to absorb what you were saying.” That’s when I realised a pause isn’t a gap. I saw how powerful it was. A pause made the room go still. People leaned in. It gave weight to my words.
Smile
One of the simplest yet most powerful tools I have learnt is to smile. When I step on stage, I begin with a smile even when nervous. It does two things. First, it immediately softens the audience and creates warmth. Second, it tells my brain, “I’m okay.” Smiling is said to release feel-good chemicals, and your body starts to follow suit.
You don’t need to keep smiling the whole time. A natural, relaxed smile at the start sets the tone. And often, it’s the beginning of your nerves fading away. By the way, you start looking good in the photos too.
Carry Notes
There was a time when I would memorise every word. If I forgot even one sentence, I would panic. Now I use cue cards with simple bullets outlining just the structure for long talks in large, legible handwriting. It’s freeing. I focus on ideas, not memorisation. For short speeches, I create an acronym of the points. If I skip a point, I just move on, because only I know what I had planned.
Having notes gives you a sense of security without tying you down. Never say, “I forgot” or “Oops, let me go back.” Just keep going. The audience would never know.
Practice Loudly
Practicing silently in your head is not the same as saying things out loud. Speaking is physical – your tongue, breath, gestures, rhythm. I learned that the hard way when I stumbled over my own phrasing during a live talk. Words that sounded great in my mind felt awkward when spoken.
Now, I always practice aloud sometimes recording myself and listening back. It’s strange at first, but it teaches you about your tone, speed and energy. And the more you hear yourself, the more confident you become in your voice.
Dress for Comfort
Your outfit isn’t just about looks. It affects how you feel and move. I once wore a brand-new outfit that looked great but felt stiff and tight. I kept adjusting it creating unnecessary distraction. I just could not focus. Now, I wear what feels comfortable and makes me feel clean and sharp.
Choose clothing that gives you confidence without distraction. You want your mind on your message and not on your clothes or shoes.
Hacks Help
Recently, I was moderating a panel at the Women Entrepreneurs Conference organised by Lalitpur Metropolitan City. In the flow of things, I completely skipped one of the key questions. I only realised it later when looking at my notes. I panicked momentarily. The audience had no idea. The panel ran smoothly. The conversation flowed. People appreciated the experience.
And that’s the magic. The audience does not know. They remember how you made them feel, not the sentence you skipped or the point you rearranged.
Try one or two of these hacks. Build from there. These small hacks won’t turn you into a TED speaker overnight. But they will do something more important. They will make you believe in yourself. They will help you show up on stage, in meetings, or during client calls, with a little less fear and a lot more presence.
Shakya is an entrepreneur, certified trainer, and small business consultant. He can be reached for an executive mentoring session at suman@tangentwaves.com
