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. 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". Sometimes there is even a small competition between participants about who is the most scared. "No, I'm MORE scared than you".
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.

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 January 17, 2012 by John Dawson