Fear of public speaking is one of the most common professional challenges — and one of the most addressable. It is not about willpower or practice alone; it is about understanding the specific mechanisms that produce your anxiety and building a personal toolkit to manage them. This one-day course is run in an overwhelmingly positive, supportive environment. You will leave with practical techniques for the psychological and physical dimensions of speaking anxiety, and genuine confidence that it can change.
How anxiety works and how to tame it, understanding your personal anxiety mechanisms, psychological techniques for confidence, physical preparation for speaking.
Every session runs in a small, boardroom-format group in an overwhelmingly positive, supportive environment. Your trainer is an expert coach who combines practical psychology with genuine warmth and encouragement. You will build confidence progressively through a series of exercises designed to feel safe, enjoyable and empowering. All coaching is focused on what you do well and how to build on it.
- Identify the root causes and triggers of your public speaking anxiety
- Deploy practical techniques to reduce anxiety when it arises
- Modify the underlying thoughts and habits that perpetuate your fear
- Prepare psychologically for public speaking with a structured approach
- Prepare physically for public speaking using relaxation and breathing techniques
- Build a personal confidence toolkit tailored to your specific anxiety patterns
- Speak in front of the group with growing confidence through progressive practice
- Leave with a practical plan for sustaining confidence beyond the course
- Neurophysiology
- Cognitive psychology
- Biochemistry
- Reinforcement cycles
- Avoidance
- Cognitive biases
- How to mitigate them
- Visualisation that works
- Applying mindfulness and meditation
- Practical positivity
- Breathing techniques
- Stretches and physical warmups
- Exercise, nutrition and physiology
Anyone who experiences nervousness or anxiety about public speaking and wants to build genuine, lasting confidence. No prior speaking experience is needed — the environment is designed to be safe, supportive and encouraging.
The following are some of the ISOC trainers who regularly lead this course, depending whether you join us in London, Dubai or live online.
A great deal. The small-group format and intensive, practical approach mean every participant leaves with specific, applicable skills and techniques.
Nothing specific is required. If you have a current project or challenge relevant to the course topic, bring it along — the practical exercises can incorporate real-world contexts.
Yes, but progressively and in an environment that is overwhelmingly supportive. The exercises are designed to build confidence gradually. Participants consistently say the experience is far more positive than they expected.
Presentation Skills builds the technical skills of public speaking — structure, delivery, audience engagement. This course specifically addresses the fear and anxiety that prevent many people from using those skills. The two are complementary.