You are at this level if:

✅ At just the thought of speaking in front of people you shut down.

✅ You create elaborate excuses and reasons why you can’t do any form of public speaking, including work meetings, social events, or going to the counter to order a coffee.

✅ You can’t focus on what you are saying – it is like your brain has frozen but there is a lot of noise. You can’t hear yourself think.

You are at this level if:

✅ Physiological responses, for example a racing heart or hot flushes, cause you to panic and get flustered before or during public speaking.

✅ You are worried that something might go wrong during your speech or presentation and it will follow you around forever.

✅ You find yourself having sleepless nights worrying about your presentation.

You are at this level if:

✅ You have physiological responses such as a racing heart or hot flushes, but you manage your nerves and find a way to make it through your presentation.

✅ You never quite get all of your preparation done, especially the parts that you feel less confident in.

✅ Public speaking gets you in defence mode - your focus is always on what could go wrong, rather than what could go well, even though you have delivered successful presentations in the past.

You are at this level if:

✅ You have recent successful public speaking experiences you can recall - confidence is success remembered.

✅ You don't rely on slides in order to deliver a presentation. When you do use slides, you make them for the audience. Slides are not your prompt.

✅ You find public speaking a comfortable experience and consider being nervous a positive thing.

You are at this level if:

✅ You can focus on the audience experience without compromising your speaking delivery.

✅ You are comfortable when put on the spot, including being asked to deliver a presentation at short notice.

✅ The audience always leaves with the specific message you intended to share, because you were clear, concise, and engaging.