Where is public speaking holding you back?

It is worth being honest about this.

Is public speaking — or more broadly, the way you communicate in visible moments — holding you back in certain situations?

Not everywhere, necessarily. Not all the time. But somewhere.

Because this is often how it works. We can feel confident and capable in one context, then find ourselves wobbling in another.

For example, I am very happy speaking on stage. Put me in front of a room, give me a microphone, invite me to speak, and I am completely at home. There is something about being on stage that suits me. I have a clear role, a defined space, and a reason to speak.

But put me in a networking environment and it is a very different story.

I can quickly feel overwhelmed by the noise, the bluster and the occasional total lack of scruples — all that bigging-yourself-up while barely listening to anyone else. I find it hard. It does not bring out the best in me. And yes, some of that is my stuff. I know that.

But that is exactly the point.

Confidence in communication is rarely universal. Most of us have environments where we feel more natural, more resourced, more ourselves — and others where our voice tightens, our thoughts get muddier, or our connection drops.

Good communication is not optional when you lead

Whether you are running your own business, leading a team, building your profile or becoming more of a thought leader, your ability to communicate your message matters.

A lot.

It shapes how people understand you, trust you and respond to you. It affects your influence, your visibility and the opportunities that come your way.

And that is why we cannot really afford to be average at this.

Not because we need to become polished, perfect performers. Not because we should be endlessly criticising ourselves. But because communication is too important to leave on autopilot.

It needs attention.

It needs evolution.

And often, it needs more honesty.

There is always more depth and nuance

I do not think this work should come from fear or self-attack. It is not about standing over yourself with a clipboard, pointing out everything you did wrong.

It is about recognising that there is always more depth available. More nuance. More self-awareness. More steadiness. More capacity.

There is always room for incremental gains.

That is what makes communication such interesting work. It is not a box to tick. It is not a destination where you finally arrive and declare yourself “done”.

In fact, I think that kind of certainty can be a red flag.

When I see someone tip into the cocky arrogance of “I’m amazing at this,” it is usually a connection killer. It often feels performative. It becomes about them rather than the audience. And the moment communication becomes about proving yourself, something important gets lost.

The best communicators I know are never finished. They stay curious. They stay responsive. They keep refining.

Where are the gaps in your communication?

This is the real invitation: to stop and reflect.

Where are the spaces where your communication is not quite matching your capability?

Where do you need to improve, deepen or steady yourself?

You might ask yourself:

• Did I really hold the attention of that room?

• Am I grounded in my message?

• Did what I said actually have impact?

• Did I connect, or did I just deliver?

• Where do I lose trust in myself when I speak?

These questions are not there to make you feel bad. They are there to help you notice what is true.

Because sometimes the challenge is not your speaking as a whole. It is a very specific kind of moment.

Maybe you are brilliant at pitching your business, but your voice constricts when you talk about pricing.

Maybe you can present confidently to a room, but words fail you in a difficult or confronting conversation.

Maybe you can speak fluently when you feel fully in control, but become rushed, vague or apologetic when you are challenged.

Maybe you are compelling on stage, but much less comfortable speaking about yourself in a smaller, more informal setting.

That level of specificity matters.

Because once you can see where your communication drops off, you can start to work with it more intelligently.

Communication needs ongoing attention

This is why I see speaking and communication as an ongoing practice, not a one-off skill.

There is always more to notice. More to strengthen. More to understand about the way you use your voice, carry your message and relate to visibility.

Not in a scary, punishing way.

In a generous, grounded way.

In a way that honours the fact that your communication is one of the clearest expressions of your leadership, your thinking and your value.

And it deserves consistent care.

Want to go deeper?

This is exactly the work we do inside Unshakeable.

We help you evolve the way you use your voice, so you can rely on it more consistently and show your true capability every time you speak.

That might mean becoming more grounded in your message, more confident in visible moments, more honest about the spaces that challenge you, or more able to communicate with clarity when it really counts.

Because the goal is not to become slick or performative.

It is to become more fully yourself — and more consistently effective — wherever you speak.