Senior Director Overcomes Public Speaking Anxiety
From dread to confident company‑wide presentations
Summary
A Senior Director in property management transformed their experience of presenting at company‑wide events. Although confident in their role, they felt intense anxiety about speaking in front of the C‑suite and decision makers. Working with me, they learned to regulate their nervous system, strengthen psychological confidence, and handle company politics strategically—leading to calm, composed delivery and positive feedback from colleagues.
Client
Senior Director, property management.
Challenge
Anticipatory anxiety specifically around public speaking:
Dread of company‑wide events and high‑visibility presentations
Fear of ‘messing up’ in front of the C‑suite and decision makers
Otherwise confident, but speaking triggered disproportionate stress
Context
Highly ambitious leader preparing for frequent internal events where composure and strategic communication were critical.
Impact
Significant mental load before presentations
Avoidance impulses and rumination
Risk of declining or underperforming in high‑value opportunities
Approach
Immediate focus on nervous‑system self‑regulation to calm anxiety
Psychological confidence work to sustain composure under pressure
Strategic preparation for company politics and stakeholder dynamics
Delivery
Six sessions combining regulation techniques and rehearsal for high‑stakes scenarios, including company‑wide talks and executive‑level presentations.
Results
Rapid reduction from panic to manageable pre‑event nerves
Confident delivery and strong audience reception
Colleagues proactively praising speaking ability
What the client valued most
“I won’t say what Olivia does is sorcery because there is science behind it but it has certainly worked magically.”
“I feel slight nerves but nothing along the lines of I’m going to have a heart attack or need to fake my own death to get out of this.
I’ve got people telling me I’m a great speaker, they love hearing me talk. It’s bizarre!”
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