Speak With No Fear

About the Author

Mike Acker is a keynote speaker, author, and executive coach with a rich background in leadership development and organizational communication. With years of experience in public speaking and helping others overcome their fears, Acker has become a sought-after expert in the field. His book "Speak With No Fear" is a practical guide for those looking to conquer their fear of public speaking and become confident, effective communicators.

Main Idea

"Speak With No Fear" addresses the common fear of public speaking and provides seven practical strategies to overcome this anxiety. By understanding and applying these strategies, anyone can transform their public speaking abilities and deliver speeches with confidence and poise.

"Whatever your situation currently is, I understand. I used to get sweaty, nervous, and nauseated even to small groups. Now, I have had the chance to speak to 3,000 people at civic engagements, lead leadership workshops, speak to several thousand people at a megachurch, engage audiences of kids and youth, speak at churches of many sizes, and many more events. I promise you that you can do this. You can speak with no fear." – Mike Acker

Table of Contents

1. Uncover & Clean the Wound
2. Imagine the Worst
3. You Be You, Grow into You
4. Speak to the One
5. It's Not About You
6. Channel the Power
7. Be in the Moment

Uncover & Clean the Wound

The first strategy to overcoming the fear of public speaking is to uncover and clean the wound. Many people have had bad experiences with public speaking in the past, which cause lingering fears. Instead of covering these fears with band-aids, it's crucial to address them directly.

"Don't ruin future successes by ignoring past pain. When your past pain no longer defines you, then your present fear begins to be eased." – Mike Acker

To begin this process, ask yourself questions to identify the root causes of your fear. Write down your answers and examine them closely. This exercise helps you understand whether your fears are based on actual feedback or are simply assumed.

• When specifically have I been embarrassed while doing public speaking?
• What was the setting for that? Was I put on the spot with no time to prepare?
• Do I have memories of people making fun of me after I had spoken?
• Did I simply fall short of my own expectations rather than have people comment on my performance?
• Why do I care what people think of my public speaking abilities?
• What is the most humiliating moment of my life?

Once you have identified the sources of your fear, you can begin to address them. There are several approaches to cleaning these wounds: