Speaking Up in Meetings with Confidence
Even When the Room Feels Intimidating
I’ve Been There, I Know the Feeling
I teach public speaking because I was once the person terrified of speaking up in meetings. My ideas would come out half-baked, my voice shaky, and my self-confidence would evaporate under pressure. I remember those freezing moments, the self-judgements, and the promotions or opportunities I missed simply because I stayed silent.
That’s why I got to work. I joined Toastmasters, immersed myself in NLP, and eventually developed my own toolkit. Not the stuffy, stand-on-a-stage kind of tools. Real, practical ways to shift your mindset, breathe through the moment, and speak up in a way that lands. I’ve coached hundreds of people through this transformation—because it’s not just public speaking, it’s about communication confidence where it matters most: at work, in meetings, with people who count.
Why Speaking Up in Meetings Feels So Hard (And What’s Really Going On)
You’re not weak, broken, or bad at your job. You’re running outdated mental programs. Maybe it was school, where you got laughed at for giving a wrong answer. Or a rigid boss who once shut you down. Or maybe it’s that voice in your head that says, “Don’t mess it up.”
This is how meeting anxiety works. It runs in the background and blocks you from fully contributing. But here’s the good news: these patterns can be changed. Quickly. And no, it doesn’t take years.
Learn more about how we help professionals overcome these patterns in our Fear of Public Speaking Explained article or explore 6 Reasons for Public Speaking Anxiety to identify what’s holding you back.
3 Ways to Build Confidence Speaking Up in Meetings
1. You Count. Don’t Discount Yourself.
You have insight. A valuable perspective. Lived experience. Stop waiting to be asked to speak. You’re already on the inclusion list—you just have to act like it. The key is owning your space in the room. The moment you stop self-editing and start contributing, things shift.
2. Optimise, Don’t Perfect
People don’t want polished. They want clear. They want human. You don’t need to over-prepare or memorise a script. Use natural signposts and speak from the truth of what you know. Don’t rush to get it over with. Slow down. Speak like you’re having a valuable conversation—not giving a TED Talk. This is public speaking confidence for real people in real situations.
3. Speak to Add Value, Not to Perform
It’s not about impressing. It’s about contributing. Speak up in meetings to add clarity, perspective, or ask a question others are too hesitant to raise. You’re not performing—you’re participating. That mindset shift? That’s where confidence comes from.
Let Go of the Pressure
Ignore the raised eyebrow or the guy looking at his phone. That has nothing to do with you. People are wrapped up in their own deadlines, targets, or thoughts. The only thing that matters is this: you’ve got something worth saying. So say it.
If you’re nervous, good. That means you care. But don’t let nerves become a personality trait. Build the skill. You can. I did. We explore more practical tools to build your confidence a work in our blog posts.
From Freezing to Flow: A Client Story
I worked recently with an entrepreneur facing a major speaking event. We did a one-on-one coaching intensive, and here’s what he had to say:
“I recently attended a half-day, one-on-one session with Shiera before a public speaking event. Her advice and coaching were brilliant and helped me tremendously. The work we did on my presentation allowed me to convey my message exactly the way I wanted. It made me feel comfortable and confident. Highly recommended if you’re a nervous public speaker.”
— M. Kenny, Entrepreneur
Final Thoughts on Speaking Up in Meetings: This Is Learnable
Speaking up is a skill. Not a mystery. Not a personality trait. Just a trainable, coachable, repeatable communication skill.
If you’re ready to step out of your fear and into your power as a confident speaker, let’s talk. Book your free discovery call and start transforming your speaking confidence today.
Check out the full Public Speaking & Presentation Skills Coaching Programme if you want structured, expert support.
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Meet the executive coach behind this article, based in Dublin, coaching globally.
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