Episode 310: Nervous While Presenting? How to Calm Nerves in the Moment
APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | PANDORA | ANDROID
Public speaking jitters aren’t a flaw, they’re biology. But with the right tools, you can stop fighting those nerves and start using them to fuel your performance.
In this solo episode of Workday Playdate, Erin shares her five-step improv-inspired framework to transform presentation anxiety into confident, commanding energy. From understanding what’s really happening in your brain to practical techniques you can use minutes before you speak, this episode is your crash course in calming your body, grounding your mind, and delivering with purpose.
Why Presentation Nerves Happen and How to Harness Them
When you step in front of an audience, your amygdala triggers the fight, flight, or freeze response. Erin breaks down how to recognize those physiological signals and use them to your advantage instead of letting them derail your delivery.
From Anxiety to Action: Tools That Work in the Moment
Nervousness is normal and manageable. Erin walks you through real-time strategies, including:
Box breathing to regulate your nervous system and cool your stress response
Anchoring with positivity to shift your mindset from “what if I mess up?” to “how can I serve?”
Intention-setting rituals that replace fear with focus
Audience-first framing to turn self-doubt into a mission to deliver value
The “Me” to “We” Shift
The most powerful mindset change? Stop worrying about how you’re being perceived and start focusing on who you’re there to help. Nervousness is often ego in disguise, and when you reframe presenting as an act of service, confidence naturally follows.
Your Play Challenge
Before your next presentation, write down one sentence: “I’m here to help them ______.” Fill in the blank and let that guide every choice you make on stage.
If you’re ready to stop dreading presentations and start owning the room, this episode is your go-to guide to turning stage fright into stage power.
Blocked time, made lists, promised yourself this time will be different—and yet by 5 PM, the work that actually matters is still staring back at you.
Enter The Ready-Made 90-Minute Focus Kit: your done-for-you reset for ditching distractions and finally making progress on what matters most. With this simple framework, you’ll reclaim your brainpower, protect your energy, and actually finish the work you care about.
Download it now and turn “Where did the day go?” into “Wow, I crushed that.”
No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)
Did today’s episode resonate with you? Leave us a review sharing your favorite insight and we’ll send you a free signed copy of I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy.
Have another question that we can answer? Leave us a Speakpipe audio clip and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode.
Don’t want to miss another episode? If you’re a Spotify listener, find our show here and click “Follow.” If you’re an Apple Podcast listener, click here and make sure to hit “+Follow.”
Want access to a bunch of free resources for your work life? This is your personal jackpot that gives you access to the frameworks that help us thrive both personally and professionally. Whether you’re trying to improve your daily routine, flesh out an idea that you’ve had for quite some time, or want to add more play into your day - these resources have got your back.
Want 2 emails a week from us? One with a quick tip you can implement right away to enhance your personal and/or professional lives & one of our famous F.A.I.L. Fourward Friday newsletters? Subscribe here.
Connect with Lareina Yee
Lareina’s LinkedIn
Lareina’s book, The Broken Rung
Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!
Erin’s website
Erin’s Instagram
Erin’s TikTok
Erin’s LinkedIn
improve it!’s website
improve it!’s Instagram