What Are the Top 5 Problems People Have with Public Speaking?

How do you feel about public speaking?

Standing up to speak in front of others can feel like stepping into a spotlight without a script. For some, it’s a mild discomfort. For others, it’s an ordeal worthy of nightmares.

But here’s the truth: no one is born a brilliant speaker. Great speakers are shaped through practice, feedback, and the willingness to get better. And while every speaker’s journey is different, the obstacles they face tend to fall into five familiar categories.

This post explores the top five public speaking problems that prevent people from communicating effectively—and offers practical, evidence-based strategies to overcome each one.

Whether you’re prepping for your first talk or refining your delivery as a professional, these insights will help you speak with greater clarity, confidence, and connection.

1. The Fear Factor: Managing Nerves and Stage Fright

Let’s start with the obvious. You're not alone if you’ve ever thought:“What if I forget everything?”“What if they laugh—or worse, don’t react at all?”

Stage fright is perhaps the most universal speaking issue, affecting novices and professionals alike. It’s not a flaw—it’s a natural reaction to perceived risk.

Why It Happens:

When you speak in front of others, your brain interprets the situation as a threat to your social standing or safety. This triggers the fight-or-flight response, flooding you with adrenaline and making it harder to think clearly.

Strategies That Work:

• Accept, don’t resist: Instead of trying to eliminate nerves, work with them. Anxiety is a form of energy—channel it into enthusiasm.

• Ritualise your preparation: Create a pre-speech routine that grounds you. Breathing exercises, light stretching, and positive self-talk can centre your focus.

• Practise under mild pressure: Rehearse in front of a friend or film yourself. Gradually increase the challenge until the real thing feels manageable.

  
  

Exercise:

Try the “Box Breathing” technique before speaking:

• Inhale for 4 seconds

• Hold for 4 seconds

• Exhale for 4 seconds

• Hold again for 4 secondsRepeat for 2 minutes to reset your nervous system.

  
  

2. Disconnection: Failing to Engage the Audience

A client once told me, “I delivered my whole talk perfectly—but it felt like I was talking to a wall.” That feeling? That’s the sting of missed connection.

Many speakers get so focused on content that they forget communication is relational. You’re not delivering a performance; you’re building a bridge.

Why It Happens:

Disconnection usually stems from over-rehearsal, over-formality, or a lack of empathy. If your delivery feels scripted or emotionally distant, your audience won’t lean in—they’ll tune out.

Solutions That Work:

• Lead with empathy: Think about what your audience needs, fears, or hopes to learn. Speak to them, not at them.

• Use stories: A well-told anecdote is one of the most powerful tools in a speaker’s kit. Stories humanise you and help others see themselves in your message.

• Listen while speaking: Watch for cues—nodding, puzzled faces, laughter—and respond accordingly. It’s a dialogue, even if they’re silent.

  
  

Exercise:

Craft a short story (90 seconds or less) that illustrates a point in your next talk. Practise telling it to a friend, then ask what stood out. Refine it based on their response.

3. The Monotone Trap: A Voice That Fails to Inspire

We’ve all endured talks delivered in a tone that could put coffee to sleep. Even compelling content gets lost if the speaker drones on without vocal variation.

Why It Happens:

Monotone delivery often comes from over-reliance on notes or fear of “doing too much.” Speakers play it safe—but safe can sound dull.

Solutions That Work:

• Master vocal dynamics:

  • Pitch = emotion

  • Pace = intensity

  • Pause = emphasis

  • Power (volume) = authority

    
    

• Read aloud for practice: Choose a passage from Shakespeare, a novel, or a speech and exaggerate the performance. It may feel silly, but it builds vocal range.

  
  

• Use the mirror test: Deliver your content with expression. Watch yourself. Ask: Do I sound like I care about what I’m saying?

  
  

Exercise:

Mark up your next speech with performance cues: underline words to stress, insert pauses, and note changes in tone. Rehearse using these cues until they feel natural.

4. Body Language That Undermines the Message

Your body speaks—even when you don’t want it to. And if your words say one thing but your gestures, posture, or expression say another, people will believe the body.

Why It Happens:

In high-pressure situations, our bodies often default to defensive or nervous habits: fidgeting, avoiding eye contact, or hiding behind a lectern. These habits weaken presence.

Solutions That Work:

• Ground yourself physically: Keep your feet planted and your posture open. Use gestures with intention, not anxiety.

• Match gesture to message: If you’re talking about something expansive, your hands should show it. If you're expressing concern, let your face reflect it.

• Record and review: Watching yourself on video may be uncomfortable—but it’s one of the fastest ways to catch and correct distracting habits.

  
  

Exercise:

Film a 2-minute explanation of a familiar topic. Watch it silently. What does your body say? Repeat the recording, adjusting gestures and posture for clarity and confidence.

5. Structural Chaos: A Talk That Lacks Flow

Great ideas often go unheard—not because they’re unworthy, but because they’re poorly organised. If your message feels scattered or hard to follow, your audience won’t know what to take away.

Why It Happens:

Without a clear framework, even the best material can feel like a string of unrelated points. And if you lose your audience mid-way through, it’s tough to bring them back.

Solutions That Work:

• Use a strong structure:

  • Introduction: Hook them and state your purpose

  • Body: Make 2–3 clear points, each supported by evidence or story

  • Conclusion: Summarise and end with a call to action or powerful final thought

• Signpost transitions: Guide your audience with clear signals: “First, let’s look at…”, “Now moving to…”, “Finally…”

• Rehearse the flow, not just the words: Knowing how your talk fits together gives you confidence and helps the audience stay on track.

  
  

Exercise:

Create a visual map of your talk. Draw circles for your main points, and arrows to show how one leads to the next. Use this to rehearse, not a full script.

Becoming a Confident Speaker Is Possible—And Closer Than You Think

There’s no magic formula for public speaking success. But there are patterns, principles, and proven techniques—and they’re available to anyone willing to learn.

These five challenges are real—but they’re also solvable. And each time you practise, reflect, and refine your approach, you grow.

Take the Next Step: Personal Coaching Designed Around You

While blog posts can offer insight, there’s nothing more powerful than targeted, personalised support. That’s where I come in.

Through one-to-one coaching, you’ll:

• Identify and overcome your specific speaking blocks

• Build a delivery style that feels natural and persuasive

• Prepare for real-world scenarios—meetings, interviews, pitches, talks—with expert feedback tailored to you

  
  

Whether you’re new to speaking or preparing for a high-stakes event, coaching accelerates progress in ways self-study can’t match.

Ready to sound like the speaker you know you can be? Let’s make that happen. Reach out today, and let’s begin building your confidence, clarity, and impact—together.