Why Motivation Is Key to Being a Better Public Speaker (and How It Fights Fear)
As an award-winning marketer and former media executive, I’ve been working with professionals ranging from members of Congress to supermodels to the staff of Fortune Magazine to help them be better public speakers.
I’ve seen it countless times: people fear public speaking more than death. Yes, you heard that right—more than death. (Thanks, Jerry Seinfeld, for the reminder!) But public speaking isn’t about life-or-death survival; it’s about tapping into our inner motivation and leaning into fear rather than away from it. So, why does motivation matter so much? And why can it help fight fear when you’re up on that stage, spotlight blazing? Or in situations like meetings, or on camera for social media?
When I teach workshops and do private public speaking training or on-camera media training, I encourage every person to tap into their motivation. Let’s talk about how we can use motivation to get through the sweaty palms, the dry mouth, and the occasional stage fright fumble.
The Psychology of Motivation vs. Fear
Fear is one of the most basic human instincts, evolved to keep us safe from saber-toothed tigers. But now that our biggest ‘challenge’ is not a tiger but rather a presentation to the C-Suite or a social media video, our minds often betray us by cranking up the fear response when what we really need is motivation.
It is hard to overcome fears but motivation is the key. Identifying a goal is stronger to run to can help you run away from fear.
Leaning into Motivation vs. Fear
When you approach a high-stakes speech, you can either lean into your fear or lean into your motivation. Leaning into fear sounds like this: “I’m going to embarrass myself,” “Everyone will judge me,” or “I’ll seem nervous.” Leaning into motivation sounds like this: “I’m excited to teach this audience,” “I want to build my career,” and “I can do hard things.”X
Motivation becomes an anchor that steadies us. When we’re motivated, we have a focus. That focus can be helping your audience learn, sharing your unique perspective, or making a connection that sparks change. This mindset doesn’t just ease anxiety—it channels nervous energy into a powerful tool for engaging and authentic communication.
As Tony Robbins famously said, “Where focus goes, energy flows.” When we focus on why we’re speaking—the outcome we want, the change we hope to create, the connection we want to foster—fear starts to lose its grip.
Real Talk: Fighting Fear with Purpose
I remember when I had to deliver my first keynote as an independent consultant. As I told my children later, I truly thought “I cannot do this.” I assumed I would not go up on the stage and instead stay frozen. Suddenly, my 20 years of experience in TV and digital media felt like it shrank to nothing. But I reminded myself why I was there—to empower people to tell their stories. To help them belief in themselves. And to prove to myself “I can do hard things.” That motivation shifted my focus from “I’m scared” to “How can I help them succeed?”
Practical Steps to Cultivate Motivation Before You Speak
Define Your “Why”: Be clear on why you’re speaking. Is it to educate? To inspire? To help others? To build your career? Write this down–you’ll need it!
Visualize Success: Picture yourself achieving your goal and feel the emotions of that success. Visualization, combined with motivation, can crowd out fear.
Focus on Your Audience: Remember, it’s not about you—it’s about them. Think about how they can learn from you. Shifting your focus can reduce anxiety and boost confidence.
Take Small Steps to Be Prepared: Preparation will make you a better speaker but will also allay your fears. It’s natural to feel you’ll fail if you’re not prepared. Once or twice a week, speak into your phone, or speak in a group setting to work your speaking muscles.
Take Action, Even If You’re Afraid: As Mark Twain once said, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.” Take that first step, even if it’s a wobbly one.
Leaning In for the Win
Fear might never go away entirely, but motivation gives you the fuel to confront it and the power to move beyond it. When you’re motivated, fear becomes just another challenge to overcome, not an insurmountable wall. So next time you’re faced with a crowd, don’t run from fear—lean into your motivation and let it do the heavy lifting.
The best public speakers aren’t those who’ve vanquished fear; they’re the ones who’ve turned it into motivation, propelling them to create moments that matter.
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