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For generations, these tales have been passed around as if they were universal truths; whispered in meeting rooms, reinforced in classrooms, and repeated by well‑meaning colleagues.
The myths are just stories, and these particular stories continue to hold presenters back and drain the life out of presentations in workplaces everywhere.
It’s time to challenge them
Once we expose them, we can finally let them go and learn what truly makes a confident, compelling speaker.
Myth 1 — Great speakers are born that way
This is one of the most damaging myths of all.
Great speakers are not born with some magical ability to command a room.
They learn it, practise it, and they work at it.
Anyone who decides to improve their public speaking skills can do so with training, commitment and determination.
As Henry DeVries wrote in Forbes, even household names like Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts and Samuel L. Jackson once struggled with public speaking and overcame it.
If they can, so can you.
Myth 2 — Audiences can’t read
We’ve all sat through presentations where the speaker reads every word from the slide.
It’s dull, frustrating and completely unnecessary.
Your audience can read.
What they can’t do is read and listen to you at the same time, at least not well.
Talk to your audience, don’t read to them.
Myth 3 — Keep your hands still
Many people have been told to keep their hands by their sides because movement looks nervous or distracting.
It’s a myth, and a big one.
Movement is natural; it adds energy, expression and visual interest.
Your hands help you bring your message to life.
Vanessa Van Edwards studied the most popular TED Talks and found that the speakers who used their hands the most were the ones audiences connected with most deeply.
The brain loves it — it gets two explanations at once.
Myth 4 — Experienced speakers don’t feel nervous
Even the most seasoned presenters feel nervous.
The difference is that they’ve learned how to manage them.
If you care about your message, nerves will always be there, and that’s a good thing.
They give you energy, focus and presence.
Mark Twain said it best:
“There are two types of speakers: those that are nervous and those that are liars.”
The goal isn’t to eliminate nerves, it’s to harness them.
Myth 5 — Only extroverts make good public speakers
Introverts can be exceptional speakers.
Susan Cain’s TED Talk on introversion is a perfect example, calm, thoughtful, and powerful.
Being introverted doesn’t mean being shy; it means you draw energy from quieter environments.
Whether you’re an introvert, an extrovert or somewhere in between, excellent speaking comes down to four things:
– Something important to say
– A belief that it needs to be heard
– Passion for your message
– The conviction to express it
Personality type doesn’t determine your potential; your intention does.
Myth 6 — There are strict rules for public speaking
Some principles help, but there are no rigid rules carved in stone.
The moment you start searching for “the rules,” you lose your authenticity.
You stop sounding like yourself.
Public speaking is a craft, not a formula.
It takes time to find your voice, trust it and express it.
Guidance is helpful; rigid rules are not.
Myth 7 — You have to be perfect
Perfection is the enemy of presence.
In ‘The 20 Habits of Truly Brilliant Presenters’, one of the core habits is simple:
They don’t try to be perfect.
Striving for perfection increases anxiety and disconnects you from your audience.
Great presenters don’t aim for an Oscar‑winning performance. They aim to be the best version of themselves, focused entirely on making a difference, not making an impression.
Audiences don’t want perfect; they want real.
Myth 8 — You need to memorise your speech
Memorising every word is theatre, not communication.
Your audience doesn’t want a polished recital.
They want someone who:
– Knows their message
– Cares about what they’re saying
– Can make them care too
The goal isn’t memorisation, it’s internalisation.
Know your message so well that if your notes vanished or your slides failed, you could still speak with clarity and confidence.
Your message should live in you, not on the page.
Myth 9 — PowerPoint is the root of all evil
PowerPoint isn’t the problem; it’s how people use it.
Visuals can elevate your message or destroy it.
They can clarify or confuse, support or suffocate.
The tool isn’t the issue; the intention is.
Myth 10 — Some topics make boring presentations
There are no boring topics, only boring presentations.
Some subjects are more challenging, yes, but that’s where creativity comes in.
If you think your topic is dull, your audience will too.
Reframe it, re‑energise and rebuild it.
– Focus on how it helps your audience
– Speak with energy and enthusiasm
– Use stories to bring it to life
– Involve your audience
– Give them the “gold” — the insight that changes something
A good presenter can make any topic meaningful.
A lack of talent doesn’t hold back public speaking; it’s held back by the myths we’ve been taught to believe. These myths shrink confidence, limit potential and keep far too many professionals from sharing ideas that deserve to be heard.
Once you strip away those myths, something remarkable happens.
You stop trying to perform and start trying to connect.
You stop chasing perfection and start pursuing impact.
When you stop worrying about how you look and start focusing on what your audience needs, everything changes.
That’s where real confidence lives and where eloquence begins.
Every great speaker you admire once stood exactly where you stand now, unsure, uncertain, and surrounded by the same myths. They grew because they challenged them.
You can too.
If you need help with the public speaking myths:
– Book yourself onto a powerful public speaking course.
– Invest in some really good one-to-one public speaking coaching.
– Get yourself some excellent presentation training
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