MOST people suffer glossophobia or intense fear or anxiety before and during public speak.
Most people want to be rock stars on stage.
They want to move and impact people using their words, and their voice. Is that easy?
Most people shake and shudder when they think about public speaking.
To cure that problem, today I (JN) interviewed not only an expert, but a public speaker, Caroline Ndlovu (CN), pictured on the right.
Caroline is a certified public speaker, corporate master of ceremonies and voice over artist.
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JN: What does it truly mean to “own the stage” and how can a speaker cultivate that presence from the moment they step up?
CN: To own the stage is to command attention not through volume, but through intention.
Presence before a single word is spoken; it is cultivated in the first three seconds: posture, eye contact and stillness.
JN: Many speakers struggle with nerves. What strategies help transform anxiety into confidence?
CN: Anxiety and excitement are physiologically identical.
The difference is the narrative.
The most effective strategy is to reframe the sensation and prepare for the moment it peaks.
So, script and internalise your opening 15 seconds so that you are able to say it verbatim.
Master your breathing and most importantly, shift your focus from self-evaluation to service.
Confidence is not the absence of fear; it is the decision to speak anyway because the message matters more than discomfort.
JN: How can a speaker quickly build rapport and keep the audience engaged throughout a presentation?
CN: Rapport is built on relevance.
Begin with the audience’s world in your mind, not your own.
A question, a shared observation or a brief story creates immediate connection.
To sustain engagement, vary the rhythm.
Consistently answer the unspoken question every listener might have: Why does this matter to me?
When the audience feels seen and served, they stay with you.
JN: Why is storytelling such a powerful tool in public speaking, and how can one craft stories that resonate?
CN: Stories are how humans make meaning from what they have leant; through pain and experiential wisdom.
Facts inform the mind, but stories move the heart and lodge ideas in memory.
The purpose of the story is never to showcase the speaker.
It is to illuminate a truth the audience can carry home.
At the School of Public Speaking Zimbabwe, we learnt about the story mountain, the setup, rising action, climax, falling action and the resolution.
People remember stories better than bullet points. Stories are relatable.
JN: If something goes wrong on stage- like forgetting a line or technical glitches — what’s the best way to recover gracefully?
CN: Grace under pressure is the true test of a speaker.
Acknowledge the moment with composure and, where appropriate, humour.
Then turn immediately to your core message.
Audiences do not remember the misstep.
They remember how you handled it.
Have bridge phrases prepared: “What matters most here is —”
This allows you to rethink, review and reset without losing authority. Poise is persuasive
J.N: What steps can speakers take to develop a unique style that sets them apart and makes them memorable?
CN: Style is authenticity refined.
Study your strengths. Record yourself to hear your voice and refine it.
Remember, you are your own best and honest critic.
Ask what people consistently remark on and amplify it.
Borrow techniques, but never mimic their voice.
A memorable speaker is not the most polished; they are the most honest and authentic.
Develop a point of view, speak from conviction, and serve the audience first.
When your delivery is rooted in who you truly are, you become impossible to forget.