How I Flipped Public Speaking Fear into Visibility

[00:00:00] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: Welcome back to the Happy Healthy Hustle. Today we are diving into the finale of our visibility miniseries. We talked about podcasting, using your voice to build trust and authority, and publishing, getting your name in print to expand your reach. Today we are talking about the most powerful visibility tool of all, public speaking. When you speak, people listen.

[00:00:31] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: There is no faster way to establish credibility, connect with your audience on a deep emotional level, and position yourself as a leader in your field. Yet so many people avoid public speaking. Maybe you are thinking, I am not a natural speaker, or I hate being on stage, what if I mess up. That fear of embarrassment is real, and a lot of people do not even know how to get speaking gigs. I have been there.

[00:01:14] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: For years, I believed public speaking was only for people who were naturally charismatic, totally extroverted, and super confident. I thought if I was not some high-level, inspiring speaker, I had no business being on stage. But here is what I learned: public speaking is not about being perfect. It is about showing up and sharing your expertise in a way that helps others.

[00:02:01] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: Public speaking is not about stepping onto a big stage. It is a skill you develop over time with small, consistent actions. The Petite Practice approach means confidence is built, not born. Confidence is not something you either have or do not. It is something you build through repetition. No one wakes up one day as an amazing speaker. Even the best in the world started small, speaking to empty rooms, making mistakes, and learning as they went.

[00:03:55] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: When I started, I had a tiny habit that shifted everything. There was a time when I would rather do anything than speak in front of an audience. I remember the first time I was asked to speak at a small event. It was not even a real gig, just a few words at a networking meetup. But the moment I stood up, my hands were shaking and my mind went blank. I got through it, but I walked away thinking, this is not for me.

[00:04:35] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: I could have written it off. Instead, I treated it like a Petite Practice and created my own tiny opportunities to keep speaking. Instead of avoiding it, I practiced in low-stakes situations. Instead of aiming for perfection, I focused on one small improvement each time. I joined Toastmasters, which I highly recommend. I said yes to panel discussions because they felt safer than solo talks. I led small group trainings and practiced mini-talks on social media. Little by little, speaking became one of the biggest growth levers in my business.

[00:06:23] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: Step one, find small, low-stakes opportunities. Do not aim for a keynote right away. Host an Instagram or Facebook Live, lead a short training, or join a panel. Try speaking for five minutes once a week. Step two, master one signature talk. Create one fifteen to twenty minute talk that showcases your expertise, structured with a story, a teaching point, and a call to action. Practice it out loud once a week, even in front of a mirror. Step three, start pitching yourself. Reach out to summits, networking groups, and show hosts, and send one pitch per week.

[00:08:02] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: The more you speak, the easier it gets. Public speaking is not about being fearless, it is about showing up consistently until it feels natural. Every great speaker started somewhere, and so can you. Here is your challenge: what is one small speaking opportunity you can create this week? DM me on Instagram at doctorchristiane and tell me, I want to cheer you on.