Public Speaking, Presence, and Confidence: Finding Your True Voice
- Geraldine Gauthier
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
There was a time when I couldn’t speak in front of ten people.
Not because I lacked ideas. Not because I didn’t care.
But because fear was louder than my voice.
And I know I wasn’t alone.
Public speaking consistently ranks among the most common fears worldwide, not because people lack intelligence or expertise, but because being seen and heard touches something deeply human: our need for belonging, safety, and acceptance.
For me, that fear showed up as a relentless inner critic:
It wasn’t about knowing what to say.
It was about believing I had the right to say it.
And this is where the real work begins.
When Fear Is Not the Problem
For a long time, I thought the goal was to eliminate fear.
It isn’t.
Fear doesn’t disappear when we become more competent.
Fear softens when we learn how to work with it: in the body, in the breath, and in the story we tell ourselves about who we are allowed to be.
That realization changed everything.
Instead of avoiding public speaking, I leaned into learning:
I trained
I got coached
I joined Toastmasters
I attended public speaking programs
I worked deeply on physical presence, confidence, and embodiment
Not to become someone else.
But to become more myself when I speak.
Because confidence is not a performance.
It’s a relationship with yourself.
What I’ve Learned about Public Speaking Over 10 Years of Practice
After a decade of speaking publicly as a coach and facilitator, I’ve noticed something important:
Most people don’t struggle with public speaking because they lack technique. They struggle because their voice isn’t yet aligned with their identity.
Confidence isn’t volume.
Impact isn’t performance.
Presence isn’t pretending you’re not nervous.
Real impact comes from:
Clarity
Grounding
Self-trust
When your inner world and outer expression start to match, people feel it.
Below are five principles I’ve developed and tested repeatedly, not as formulas, but as anchors that help people speak with more ease, authority, and influence.
5 Principles for Speaking with Confidence and Impact
1. Sell the Why, Then Share the How
Start by explaining why this matters to your audience right now.
Only after there’s buy-in do you move into details and logistics.
People don’t connect to information.
They connect to relevance.
Pro tip:
Test your opening by asking: “Would I care about this if I were hearing it cold?”
If the answer is no, rework your WHY.
2. Explore Six Strong Openings
Great speakers rarely start with slides.
They start with connection.
Try opening with:
An open-ended question
“Imagine…”
A short personal story
Hard evidence or data
A bold statement
The deeper why behind the topic
Your first 30 seconds set the emotional tone for everything that follows.
3. Clarify the Message: The Message > You
Your presentation isn’t about showcasing everything you know.
It’s about delivering one clear, memorable message.
Strip away ego. Focus relentlessly on what your audience needs to:
Understand
Believe
Feel
Do
Clarity is generous.
4. Balance Ethos, Pathos, and Logos
Powerful communication blends three elements:
Ethos (Credibility) Establish trust and authority.
Pathos (Emotion) Connect with feelings and values.
Logos (Logic) Use data, facts, and reasoning.
When these three work together, your message feels both intellectually solid and emotionally resonant.
5. Engage the Senses Through Visualization
The brain processes visual information far faster than text.
When you use vivid, sensory language, you help people see, hear, and feel your message.
Instead of: “Our sales increased significantly.”
Try: “Imagine walking into our office and seeing the sales board light up. Every column climbing higher, our team erupting in celebration as we shattered our quarterly goal.”
Sensory detail turns abstraction into experience.
A Neuroscience Hack: The Power of Small Talk
Before you present, talk to people.
Mingle.
Ask questions.
Listen.
This isn’t filler time. It’s strategic preparation.
Why it works:
Casual conversations release dopamine, reduce stress, and build rapport.
When people feel connected to you as a human, they’re more receptive to your message.
Think of small talk as priming the pump.
You’re creating psychological safety before your first slide appears.
These Are Not About Being “Polished”
These principles are not about sounding professional.
They’re about being:
Clear. Grounded.
Present.
Human.
Why This Matters Even More in the Age of AI
We’re entering an era where:
Writing is easier than ever
Messages can be generated in seconds
Content will be abundant
But what cannot be automated:
Speaking clearly under pressure
Responding in real time
Reading the room
Building trust through presence
In 2026 and beyond, voice becomes a differentiator.
Not the loudest voice. Not the most confident-looking voice.
But the voice that feels aligned, intentional, and human.
Your Voice Is Not a Problem to Fix
If there’s one thing I’ve learned:
We don’t need more people trying to sound the same.
We need more people willing to sound like themselves.
Clear.
Grounded.
Present.
Your voice matters.
Not because it’s perfect, but because it’s yours.
And when fear is no longer driving the conversation, something powerful happens:
Your ideas finally get the space they deserve.
Ready to Strengthen Your Voice?
If this resonates, you don’t need to do it alone.
I work with coaches, leaders, and facilitators who want to speak with more clarity, presence, and self-trust, without forcing confidence or performing a version of themselves that doesn’t fit.
Whether you’re preparing for public speaking, group facilitation, or high-stakes conversations, the work starts from alignment, not polish.
Your voice doesn’t need fixing. It needs space, grounding, and permission.
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