Many of us have been there: hands shaking and heart fluttering as we prepare to give a presentation at work, or eyeing the nearest exit as we’re handed the microphone to deliver a speech at a wedding. Standing in front of a room full of people can be daunting – to be able to do so confidently is a valuable and enviable skill. So how can we stop public speaking sending shivers down our spine, and get to the point where we not only cope with it, but enjoy it?
‘The fear of judgment is hardwired into us,’ performance coach Zoé Carroll tells me. ‘Lots of people looking at us and being the centre of attention makes us feel really vulnerable, and our neurological and
