“It’s alright to have butterflies in your stomach. Just get them to fly in formation.”
— Dr Rob Gilbert
The Music Moment
I’m holding the guitar in my hand, basking in the warmth of applause from a group of friends, having just finished my third song. These first songs are ones I know well. The chord changes are embedded in my muscle memory. The vocal sequences, I’m confident I can deliver with precision.
But now, for the fourth song, I feel the nerves creeping back in. Odd, considering they had settled after the first. This song, though, stretches me — both vocally and on the guitar. I haven’t quite committed it to memory.
And that’s when it hits me:
I haven’t changed. The setting hasn’t changed. The only variable is my level of preparation.
Preparation Beats Fear
For public speakers, preparation is the ultimate antidote to fear. But preparation has many dimensions — and how you prepare depends on how much time you have.
With Five Minutes to Go
If you ask me five minutes before a big presentation how to overcome stage fright, I’d say:
- Take three deep breaths. (Inhale through the nose, feel your diaphragm expand, exhale slowly through the mouth.)
- Remember your main messages.
Beyond that, I might give you a pat on the back and say, you’ve got this.
Just like with that tough song — take a deep breath and go for it.
With a Couple of Days
If you’ve got a couple of days, use them to practise with your current skill set. This is not the time to try something new. Focus on the basics:
- Do you know your main points?
- Do you know how long you have — and how long your presentation takes?
- Are you clear on the logistics — the where and the when?
If yes, you’re in good shape. Just like I’d rehearse that tricky song repeatedly before a performance, repetition builds confidence.
With Six Months
Now, if you’ve got six months — that’s a different conversation.
This is the time to develop new skills. You can start:
- Using vocal variety
- Incorporating purposeful gestures
- Crafting stories to engage the audience
- Experimenting with pacing and pauses
As these skills develop, so does your confidence. Eventually, when you step on stage, you’ll feel ready — not just familiar with your content, but capable of delivering it with impact.
The Journey to Confidence
That’s the journey all accomplished public speakers go through. It’s easy to look at someone polished and assume it comes naturally. But what you’re really seeing is the result of preparation — not the absence of fear.
So get started.
Your fear of public speaking doesn’t reveal a flaw in your personality. It doesn’t mean you’re incapable of speaking with confidence. It simply tells you one thing:
You need more preparation.
And once you’ve done the work — you’ll soon see those butterflies fly in formation.