Overcome the Fear of Stepping Forward to Speak

Overcome the Fear of Stepping Forward to Speak

Step Forward Folks!

There’s a very specific moment that almost everyone who speaks in front of others knows well. It’s the breath before you walk on stage. That half‑second before you stand up to present in a meeting. 

The tiny pause before you say, “I’d like to add something.” 

For many people, that moment feels like fear. And yet, it’s something else; it’s simply your body preparing you to do something that matters. 

And with an improviser’s mindset, that moment becomes far less intimidating and far more powerful.

“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage” Dale Carnegie, author: How to Win Friends and Influence People

Great speakers aren’t immune to nerves. They just have a structure that helps them step forward anyway. They trust that whatever happens next, they can respond. That’s improv. And it’s a skill anyone can learn.

When you know you can adapt, when you know you can recover, when you know you can begin without being fully “ready,” the moment before you speak stops being a threat. It becomes a cue. A signal. A green light.

With bated breath... step forward and trust the process

TRY IT OUT! 💘 Our weekly tip, from applied improv to you.

The First Step

Objective: To experience the feeling of stepping forward to talk - unscripted.

How It Works: 2+ players - better with at least four. Choose a “stage”, front of the room, a spot on the floor. All players stand in a row, two paces behind the ‘stage’. Without instruction or negotiation a player takes two steps forward.

The structure (the safety net): The player then follows these steps: Pause: Take a breath. Feel your feet. Name what you notice: “I’m buzzing,” “I’m nervous,” “I’m ready.” The prompt: Only after they’ve stepped forward, give them a topic. They speak for 20 seconds. Repeat until all players have taken their turn.

Reflection: The win isn’t the speech. It’s the moment they choose to begin. It’s about taking the First Step into an ‘unknown’.

Download: The First Step!

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Something from the orchard 

The audience were seated, the lights were down, the play had begun. As with improv plays, there is no script, plot or characters - these are created in the moment. I’m standing [Paul] in the wings of the stage. Poised to step into a scene already being played out.

There’s a zillion thoughts ringing through my head… Who am I? How do I relate to the characters in the scene already? What’s my name? What should I say when I walk on? What voice should I use?

I walk on anyway. Trusting the process. Trusting the structure. Trusting that these things will get figured out. And right on cue, another character sees me and says “Ah, here comes the Jonny, the gardener. Did you bring the apples?”

So, if you like them apples, join us on Fridays, at 10:00am (UK).

See you then,

Paul and Vic

#OvercomeSpeakingFear #ImprovForConfidence #StepForwardWithImprov #PublicSpeakingTools #AppliedImprovisation #YesAnd #BusinessSkills #PersonalGrowth #agilityinbusiness #ImprovComedy

Calling All Corporates!

If you are sending your people to talk at conferences, seminars, and workshops then talk to us to see how we can help elevate their speaking skills. Write to us at hello@improvinc.co.uk. We’d love to chat.