Get All Access for $5/mo

Retrain Your Brain to Feel Confident About Public Speaking You're very unlikely to go blank, pass out and wet yourself on stage. Instead, focus on the good things.

By Jeff Shore Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Picture yourself sitting in an audience, listening to a presentation at a conference. The speaker on the low platform at the front of the room suddenly grabs a mic and says to the crowd, "To prove my point, I am going to need a volunteer." He begins walking in your general direction.

How do you feel right now?

Some of you are thinking, "I feel great and I hope he picks me!" But perhaps you are one (of the majority) who is not feeling great. Does even imagining this scenario make you start sweating a little? Maybe when you have found yourself in this kind of position, you have applied the age-old "must check my phone and be fully focused on the most important message of my life" trick.

Related: The Common Advice Barbara Corcoran and an Astronaut Used to Conquer Fear

Anything to avoid being put on the spot in public. If there was someone in the crowd asking for volunteers to leave right then to go get root canals, you would be the first one out of your seat. Anything to avoid Satan and his microphone!

The experience simulator

If your reaction to the idea of public speaking is fear and loathing, you are reacting according to what Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert calls the "experience simulator," a function of your prefrontal cortex. This is the area of our brains where we play out versions of what might happen next in any given set of circumstances.

For a few lucky people, the experience simulator presents a positive scenario with an optimistic outlook. "Oh yes! I am going to grab that mic and I am going to look good." But for most people, the experience simulator presents a train wreck with the corresponding message of "Oh no … he is going to pick me! I won't know what to say! I am going to look like an idiot! I will never live this down!"

That's the thing about the experience simulator: for most people, it is a worst-case scenario machine, churning out intense, movie-worthy "possibilities" at a ferocious rate. In other words, your own brain can be your own worst enemy.

Retraining your experience simulator

Public speaking worst-case scenarios that your brain can serve up include but are not limited to the following fears: stumbling over words, going completely blank, being laughed at by an audience, tripping, falling, passing out, wetting oneself, or most realistically of all, the fear of all of these things happening simultaneously. In reality, only the first of these possibilities is even remotely likely.

Related: 7 Communication Skills Every Entrepreneur Must Master

Yes, you might stumble on your words. Put the brakes on your brain right there. When was the last time you saw a speaker pass out or lose bladder control on stage? Be honest and reasonable and do not let your mind wander into possibilities that will simply not happen.

With your imagination in check, begin to retrain your experience simulator by focusing only on positive outcomes: the applause, the smiles, the encouragement, and most importantly, the impact your speaking will have on people's lives. You have a message to share that will bless people around you. You are doing the world no favors by not sharing it.

Trust that people will hear your heart, even if you stumble on your words. Focus all of your thinking about speaking on your audience vs. on yourself. This retraining and re-focusing will radically change how you feel about public speaking.

In his (excellent) book, Stumbling on Happiness, Gilbert points out that the brain has a difficult time distinguishing reality from synthetic reality. In short, we can create synthetic positive scenarios in our brain by retraining our experience simulator. It all begins by keeping worst-case scenarios out and putting thoughts and images of positive outcomes in. Get inside your own head!

When you have a public-speaking opportunity (or when that speaker from the stage is heading straight towards you in order to make his point), focus your mind on the good you can bring to an audience and let that picture dominate your thoughts.

Grow your confidence, and you will change people's world.

Related: The Deadliest Presentation Mistakes Anyone Can Avoid

Jeff Shore

Entrepreneur, Sales Expert and Author; Founder of Shore Consulting

Jeff Shore, of Shore Consulting, is a sought-after sales expert, speaker, author and consultant whose latest book, Be Bold and Win the Sale: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone and Boost Your Performance, was published by McGraw-Hill Professional in January 2014.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Marketing

9 Key Tips to Help You Get the Most Out of Your Link-Building Efforts

Here's a quick guide that will help you identify the scams and get the best value for your money.

Business News

Daniel Lubetzky Took Kind Snacks From Idea to $5 Billion. Here's His Best Advice For Anyone Who Wants to Start a Business.

In an interview with Entrepreneur, Kind Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky tells aspiring business owners not to follow someone else's path to success — even his.

Business News

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon Isn't Worried About AI Taking Over Jobs — Here's Why

Dimon said AI was part of the next wave of tech innovation.

Growing a Business

How to Build Effective Collaborative Business Relationships — Your Step-by-Step Guide

Use this structured framework to form successful partnerships, manage risks and create lasting value for all stakeholders involved.

Marketing

Free Webinar | November 20: How to Avoid 3 Costly and Common Marketing Mistakes

Join our webinar on 11/20 with author and business coach Darcy Juarez to learn simple, budget-friendly marketing strategies that will attract clients and grow your business fast. Register now!

Business Plans

How to Master Your Strategic Planning As You Prepare Your Business for 2025

Here's how to best think about strategic planning, communication rhythms and maintaining alignment for consistent growth as you plan for next year.