The Public Speaking Ladder: Step-by-Step Guide to Build Confidence
Many people are told to “just throw yourself in the deep end” when it comes to public speaking. You may have heard this advice in school, university, or at work. While well-intentioned, it is unhelpful. Public speaking is a skill, and like any skill, it is developed step by step. You would not climb a ladder by jumping straight to the top rung. Your speaking journey should follow the same principle: start small, build confidence, and scale up gradually.
By mastering each rung of the ladder, you develop competence, confidence, and the ability to communicate with impact in any setting. This guide explores my five levels of public speaking, practical strategies for each stage, and how to climb the ladder successfully.
Understanding the Five Levels of Public Speaking
Public speaking can be broken down into five levels. Each level contains multiple rungs, and you cannot reach the highest level without progressing through the earlier stages. Climbing step by step ensures sustainable growth and confidence.
Level 1 – I Am Not Getting in Front of Anyone to Speak
At this stage, fear prevents you from speaking publicly. The first step is to make the fear tangible.
Identify worst-case scenarios: Write down what you fear most about public speaking and create plans to mitigate them.
Visualise best-case scenarios: Consider the positive outcomes that could result from speaking.
Design a minimum viable nano speech: Create a simple 10-second structure with an opening, body, and close. At this stage, you are only designing the speech, not delivering it.
Practice in front of a mirror: This builds comfort with your own voice and posture, preparing you for real-world speaking situations.
Level 2 – I Have a Fear of Public Speaking
You are willing to speak but feel anxious. Begin with low-stakes scenarios to practice.
Define comfortable scenarios: Identify settings and audiences where you feel safe to speak.
Daily nano speech practice: Use short, structured conversations to build confidence gradually.
Focus on one improvement at a time: Avoid overwhelming yourself by trying to fix multiple aspects simultaneously.
Level 3 – I Can Do It but It’s Stressful
Here, you can speak publicly, but it still feels stressful. Focus on preparation and targeted practice.
Address weaker areas: Identify parts of your presentation that make you uncomfortable and rehearse them.
Stack recent reps: Practicing in the weeks before a presentation ensures readiness and smooth delivery.
Slide strategy: If using PowerPoint, create slides for your audience, not yourself. This ensures you remain conversational and avoid relying on slides as a crutch.
Level 4 – I Am a Confident Speaker
Confidence comes from understanding your audience and structuring your content effectively.
Focus on audience needs: Tailor your message to what the audience wants and needs. Make your presentation about them.
Integrate storytelling: Use stories to illustrate points and make concepts tangible. Avoid unnecessary context; every moment should advance the story.
Prioritise clarity: Deliver your main point in one sentence, and use supporting details to reinforce it.
Confident speakers are able to connect deeply, engage effectively, and communicate with clarity and authority.
Level 5 – I Am a Competent Speaker
At this stage, you leave a lasting impression. Competent speakers combine content mastery, audience engagement, and confidence.
Make presentations memorable: Add elements that stand out and reinforce your key message.
Deliver without reliance on slides: Slides should enhance, not carry, the presentation. Be prepared to present without them.
Include a clear call to action: Inspire your audience to take action. Leaving them with a tangible next step ensures your presentation has impact.
Competent speakers not only deliver content but also inspire action and influence audiences long after the presentation ends.
Strategies to Climb the Public Speaking Ladder
Step-by-step progression: Build confidence incrementally, tackling one level at a time.
Daily nano speech practice: Incorporate short, structured conversations into your day to improve naturally.
Audience-first mindset: Ensure all content helps the audience understand and engage with your message.
Iterate and reflect: After each speaking opportunity, evaluate what worked and what can be improved.
Climbing the public speaking ladder requires patience, deliberate practice, and audience-focused communication.
Actionable Takeaways
Climb the ladder one rung at a time. It won’t be a fast ladder to climb but the only way to get to level 5 is rep by rep.
Build your daily speaking habit using the nano speech. Use this to scale every day conversations into public speaking in front of a large audience.
Make everything about the audience. If it doesn’t engage them or help them to understand your message, don’t include it in your presentation.
Climb each step of public speaking mastery with the help of the Ultimate Guide to Public Speaking
More from Liam Sandford
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