Speeeech by Dani Molyneux, Dotto

Written by Dani Molyneux 

According to studies (ask Google) public speaking is more feared than death. Which is obviously very dramatic. I mean, it's just a bit of talking in front of people, right?

So, what are we so afraid of?

For the purposes of this article, I'm writing from the perspective of a human in the creative industry. An industry made up of deep-feeling, over-thinking, imposter-syndrome-swathed egos. Argh! It's ok though — that’s why we can do this job.

The tricky thing to get past, though, is that many of us have been conditioned to thrive on external validation. Through awards, accolades, respect from our peers, awe from our audiences. In such a subjective field, it's how most of us measure success.

Is that why we're so afraid? We don't want to look stupid. We're scared of being ridiculed. Or worse… thought of as mediocre. Essentially, we're all still little kids wanting to be liked.

For the early part of my career, I was terrified of presenting my ideas, particularly in any kind of formalised setting. I wasn't born like this, I'd even describe myself as an outgoing, stage-hogging kid. But society does a number on many of us, meaning by the time we get to work-age, we are self-deprecating nervous wrecks.

For many years, this really held me back. I'd avoid client presentations; I wouldn't put myself forward for talks; I'd keep quiet in brainstorms. So much so, that in my last full-time role, I was often pulled up on it. Told I'd be a great designer — if only I had more confidence. That alone became a self-fulfilling prophecy. At one point I'd internalised it so much, I'd decided that that’s just who I was.

Fast forward to freelancing. Clearly, to make that work, things had to change. At first, they did without me noticing. I realised I'd been presenting to clients without a second thought. Going to networking events, holding conversations and bringing in new clients. All by my little own self.

Bit by bit, I pushed myself to do more things. I put myself forward to host Manchester Ladies Wine + Design (which I did for 3 years in the end). And while I was looking for other people to speak, it was inevitable that I would have to as well, through introductions, panels, or other events. This ultimately gave me a kick start to some proper public speaking.

From that point on, I threw myself into it. Speaking at events and art school lectures. Always with the nerves, always with the doubt, but knowing that ultimately, I was going to be ok.

I know now, I'm not remotely alone in feeling like this. That many of my creative peers either feel or have felt the same way at some point. Even the ones who hide it well. But don’t take my word for it—obvs. Let's get into it with some other fine folk who have faced their fears and done it anyway.

Don’t Wait to Feel Ready.

There are of course some lucky people who are natural public speakers—like Miro Laflaga, co-founder of strategic branding consultancy Six Cinquième. He explained that oral presentations were the main reasons he was able to pass many of his classes at school.

"I never shy away from speaking my own mind and love sharing my opinion. So, the public speaking happened real smoothly for me."

But many of us don't feel like this. We'll never feel ready or filled with confidence. The only way is to accept those feelings and do it anyway. Even the most prolific speakers get the jitters. Founder + designer Rejane Dal Bello has frequented many a stage, and describes how she feels after agreeing to a speaking gig,

"Every time I say yes, I instantly regret it. It's a pretty intimidating thing. I'm not sure I'm good at public speaking — I've just done it for a long time now, so I've gotten used to standing in front of people and talking about my work. But that doesn’t mean I'm relaxed… I still get nervous every single time."

Founder of community network Fuse, Jaheed Hussain goes one step further — he describes feeling terrified of putting himself out there.

"As an introvert, being perceived in any way, feels really uncomfortable and strange."

So Why Do It Then?

It's a valid point. If so many of us fear it, and actively avoid it, why bother?

Designer and art director, Émilie Chen explains her thinking,

"I'm an introvert, so it's something that doesn't come naturally, but I have come to enjoy it. I still get nervous in the few minutes leading up to stepping on stage, and the first few minutes on stage are always nerve-wracking, but I've learned to see my fear as a positive — it shows that I care, and that I am pushing myself out of my comfort zone. As soon as I hear people laughing at an anecdote I've shared, or making approving noises when I reveal a piece of work, I know I am on the right track, and I immediately start relaxing and enjoying the experience."

Jaheed tells me why he decided to overcome his fear. How early on, he grasped how important becoming more visible is.

"You have to put yourself out there. Because if you don't, no one else will. It's tough to hear, but if you're not showing up, people will forget you exist – and that could mean everything when it comes to finding the right opportunities, making genuine connections, or feeling like you want to become part of the local community."

Rejane goes further:

"We grow through the work. Nobody starts out big — we become better by taking on challenges and showing up for them. I can speak now from experience: What matters is the desire to share — and remembering it's not about you, it's about what you can offer others. Sharing how you think, what shaped your path, what led you to where you are — that's what people connect with, not just the finished work."

Ok you're signed up. How do you Prepare.

Ash Phillips, co-founder + CD of Six Cinquième also describes herself as a naturally quiet introvert. She has some advice for anyone like her who gets very stressed out.

"Practice and preparation are key. Also, don't memorise a speech. Know your talking points and practice speaking about them casually, as though you're speaking to a friend. The more you do it, the easier it gets and the more used to the nerves you become."

Emilie is also a fan of preparation.

"If you've tailored your content with the audience in mind, and prepared long enough, everything will be ok."

Rejane started doing social work at 17, so early on had to learn how to prepare material and keep people engaged for a long period of time. She found knowing her subject matter was key.

"At the time, I really had a hard time doing it. That only improved when I began lecturing about graphic design. Then I could talk about my creative process, how I arrive at a solution, Design doesn't just appear out of nowhere. There's always a process behind it — choices, context, and moments that shape the result."

Remember Who It’s For.

When you're giving a talk, it's unlikely to a hostile audience. We're not stand-up comedians or politicians. It's to people who have chosen to attend and are interested in our work. They aren't there to heckle.

Emilie agrees,

"The truth is if people have come to see you, they are curious about what you have to say and are rooting for you to succeed in your presentation."

Rejane describes how as an audience member, she's always amazed by how different every speaker is…

"And that’s the beauty of it. So don't be afraid. What makes it powerful is that each person brings their own unique view of life and design. And nobody else has your perspective. So please, share it. We'd love to learn from you."

Right, You're on the stage. Now what?

Eye contact makes a huge difference. By looking out into the audience you appear more confident. It also helps people connect with you. If looking at an actual real person makes the nerves worse, focus on a random spot in the auditorium. Something that helps your eyes look out rather than down.

I find introducing myself to be one of the hardest things. It's also when I hear my own voice over the mic. Double ick. But the good news is, that bit is short. Once it's out of the way, you'll be talking about things you genuinely want to talk about. And then it's much easier to find your flow.

Once you get into it, you'll forget about what your voice sounds like or how you mispronounced your own name. 

Overcoming Obstacles Leads to Opportunities

I often find good comes out of overcoming fears. Usually, something unexpected. For Rejane it's about sharing with peers, connecting with people around the world, and learning from them.

"In that sense, I've had so many opportunities — new friendships, fresh perspectives, and the chance to experience different cultures. That's the real value."

Jaheed has found that he's been able to expand the kind of work he does.

"With Fuse, we'd create a space for artists in our network to facilitate their own workshops, but I never thought I'd get that opportunity to do my own. That came about simply because of the experience I'd gained and various public speaking opportunities."

Ash describes how indirectly it gave her the confidence to do it again.

"It also helps broaden your network and strengthens your credibility. All of these things add up, plant seeds and open doors to opportunities in the short and long term."

Emilie agrees,

"My confidence in my ability to do public speaking has grown over time, by speaking in front of increasingly bigger audiences."

Miro is more direct,

"Simply put: It helps establish your credibility and you're seen as a leader."

He goes on to explain how it encourages authenticity within professional relationships too…

"Now potential clients and collaborators will have an idea of how we think and what to expect from us. I want to work with people who value us as humans first and creatives second."

Take Steps To Encourage Opportunities

You don't have to wait to be asked.

Emilie's advice would be to start by finding creative groups in your city, go to a few of their events as an attendee first, and introduce yourself to the organisers. After a few times, approach them with a talk idea you're passionate about, and that you think their audience would find interesting.

"If you want to share your work, ask yourself what insights from your creative process others will find inspiring, or what experiences they might learn from — one example from my talks, is how I almost didn't apply for my dream role (senior creative role at the National Theatre) because I didn't think I had enough experience, and how going beyond the creative task with a 'Go Big or Go Home' attitude, landed me the role there."

If you still need convincing

Take Ash's advice

"JUST. DO IT. I am by no means an expert. Putting myself out there is still fairly new to me, even though I've been speaking for a few years now. Being vulnerable can be very intimidating. But it's also liberating, healing and unlocks so many opportunities."

Miro doubles down on this, 

"Your vulnerability is your superpower. The more vulnerable you can be and showing how it ties to your work, the better. The mistakes, the fears, the imperfections, put all that out there. People are tired of seeing others act perfect with their curated lives. The new leaders of tomorrow are the people who can show they are not perfect. That's more relatable."

"Nobody else has your perspective. So please, share it.”"Rejane

We absolutely need an eclectic range of voices in the world. And whilst most of the creatives I spoke to are self-described introverts, myself included—we each have the power to use our voice and share our story our own way.

So if you haven't dabbled in public speaking yet, this is your sign to go forth and speak.

Article written by Dani Molyneux, Dotto

Contributors:

Ash Phillips and Miro LaFlaga, Six Cinquième

Jaheed Hussain, FUSE

Rejane Dal Bello

Émilie Chen