No is the quick answer. Most people on my course don't want to be there! So the feeling nerves will be shared by most people on the course.

My job is to make the course as safe as possible for people to come but I know public speaking is something that lots of people want to avoid so they come on my course with reluctance.

The good thing about that is that everybody is the same boat and quite often there is a sense of huge relief that "Its not just me who feels like this". On the course I don't ask people to reveal what they do - it might come out but it doesn't have to. So I've had courses with 19 year old students working with 45 year old businessmen and maybe a 35 year old teacher (i'm guessing the ages here!)

Knowing all that - it becomes my job to make the day/s as safe as possible to explore what is getting in the way.  (I've been running the courses since 2000 )
What happens is that the course turns quickly into a very supportive place where your main job is to support other people. A place where it doesn't matter how fearful you are at public speaking - but as long as you bring some curiosity about changing how you feel. And yes you can make huge changes about how you feel.

I'm happy to chat to you about your worries.(john@speaking-infront.co.uk) If you want more information here are some links.

why am i scared of public speaking - blog entry

Introducing my public speaking courses

changing your relationship to public speaking - a video by John

Trust me death is scarier - a blog entry about putting public speaking fear into context

Last updated on September 26, 2012 by John Dawson