March 28, 2025
After coaching thousands of people in communication skills, there’s one fear I see over and over again.
It’s the hidden fear that quietly holds most people back from becoming confident, compelling speakers.
The fear that something goes wrong.
This fear is completely normal. It’s hardwired into us. Deep down, we’re afraid that if we mess up, we’ll be judged—or rejected.
The result? We try to speak “perfectly.”
We sound stiff, nervous, overly polished… or just plain fake.
But here’s the key difference between average communicators and truly great ones:
Great communicators don’t expect perfection. They trust themselves to handle whatever happens.
When something unexpected happens, they don’t freeze up.
They think: “Alright, I’ve got this.”
The best part? You can learn that too.
Here are 3 simple, practical strategies I use in my communication skills training that will help you stay calm, confident, and quick on your feet—no matter what comes your way.
Improvisation means speaking without a script. You pick a topic and start talking—no prep, no notes. Just you, figuring it out in the moment.
Why is this so powerful?
Because life is improv.
Presentations don’t always go to plan.
Slides freeze.
People interrupt.
Clients ask unexpected questions.
And when that happens, you want to stay calm, grounded, and present—not panicked.
Improv helps you train exactly that.
Now, I’ll be honest—when I first started improvising, it felt awkward.
I didn’t know what to talk about. Setting timers was a hassle. I kept skipping it.
So I built something to make the process super easy.
👉 Check out Speaking.Games
It’s a free tool packed with fun games to practice both public speaking and storytelling.
How it works:
Start with the simpler games. Once you get the hang of it, try the more advanced ones.
It’s fast, fun, and surprisingly effective.
Want to speak more clearly and confidently under pressure? Start here.
Practicing on your own is like shooting hoops in your driveway.
You’ll improve—but if you want to play in the big leagues, you need to get on the court.
That’s where real growth happens.
Speaking in front of others builds a new kind of muscle:
resilience.
You learn how to handle nerves, think on your feet, and connect with real people in real time.
Here are a few ways to get started:
• Join a local improv group
• Sign up for an acting class
• Try a program like Ultraspeaking
• Or simply grab a few friends and take turns giving mini talks
Let me tell you a quick story.
Last year, I joined an acting group. One day, we had to act out a scene in gibberish—a completely made-up language.
Most of the group nailed it.
I… did not.
I sounded like a confused robot.
It was awkward. Really awkward.
But here’s the thing:
Being okay with awkwardness is a communication superpower.
I didn’t die. No one laughed me out of the room. I leaned into the discomfort—and that made me a more confident speaker.
Find a safe space where you can mess up.
The awkwardness fades. The confidence sticks.
This one’s wild. But it works.
In May 2022, I was on my way to give a TEDx Talk.
On the train ride there, I thought, “Let’s warm up in style.”
So I stood up in the middle of the train and said:
“Excuse me, can I have your attention please? I’m going to sing a song for you.”
Now, I’m a terrible singer. But I did it anyway.
For 3 full minutes, I sang a random Reggaeton song.
People looked confused. Some were mildly horrified 😅
But you know what? When I stepped on that TEDx stage, I felt invincible.
Because if I could survive singing on a train full of strangers—I could handle anything.
This exercise is called constructive embarrassment.
It’s the practice of doing something uncomfortable on purpose to rewire your fear of judgment.
Try this:
• Give a high-five to a stranger
• Do yoga in the middle of a supermarket
• Lie down on the floor in a coffee shop
• Start clapping at a quiet bus stop
They sound ridiculous. But they build real, unshakable confidence.
They teach you: “If I can handle that, I can handle anything.”
If you practice just one of these strategies, you’ll grow.
If you do all three, you’ll become the kind of speaker people remember.
So—what about you?
Which of these three strategies have you tried?
And how did it go?
I’d genuinely love to hear from you.
Much love,
Philipp
P.S. Want to become a stronger communicator?
Here are two ways I can support you:
👉 Want to tell more engaging stories? Join our next Storytelling Workshop.
👉 Want to speak with confidence and clarity? Check out our Communication Skills Training.
Both are fun, practical, and designed to help you grow fast.
Are you ready to transform your storytelling skills?
Discover how your storytelling skills score and uncover useful insights to help you become a charismatic storyteller:
