10 Public Speaking & Communication Training Solutions for Common Speaking Challenges

Welcome to part seven of our “100 Public Speaking Questions Answered” series, where we address real-world speaking challenges and provide practical, actionable solutions. In this segment, we’re tackling questions #61–70 — covering everything from managing extreme fear of public speaking to helping kids who clam up in public, from slowing down speech pace to avoiding rambling, and from networking confidently to sounding more authoritative. Whether you’re a parent looking for the right course for your child, a professional aiming to refine your delivery, or a shy speaker ready to break out of your comfort zone, you’ll find targeted training recommendations and quick tips you can apply immediately.

10 Public Speaking & Communication Training Solutions for Common Speaking Challenges (Content List):

• Is there a speaking class for adults with extreme fear of public speaking?
• Best course for kids who are talkative at home but shy in public?
• Training for teens who speak too fast or mumble?
• Speaking course for professionals who go off-topic or ramble?
• Best communication class for people who avoid eye contact?
• Speaking workshop for perfectionists who fear making mistakes?
• Which course helps with overthinking and stage anxiety?
• Class for individuals who want to sound more authoritative?
• How to help a child who’s overly dependent on memorized scripts?
• Course for adults who struggle with small talk and networking?

“Is there a speaking class for adults with extreme fear of public speaking?”

Answer:
Yes — but with an important note. At Public Speaking Academy, our adult programs such as the World Champion Certification Program (WCCP) and the S’Peak

 Performance Adult Masterclass are designed to help learners manage and gradually overcome public speaking fears through safe, small-group practice, step-by-step exposure, and positive reinforcement.

However, if the fear of public speaking is part of a broader psychological or physiological condition that requires clinical or therapeutic intervention (e.g., severe anxiety disorder, speech therapy needs), we recommend pairing our training with professional therapy for the most effective results. Our trainers do not provide medical treatment or specialised therapy, but we can complement such care by focusing on the practical skills and confidence-building aspects of communication.

Quick Tips to Ease Extreme Public Speaking Fear:

• Start Small, Build Up – Begin in low-stakes situations (e.g., speaking to 1–2 trusted people) and work toward larger groups, gradually desensitising yourself to the fear trigger.
• Surround Yourself with Positive Energy – Join supportive learning environments like public speaking courses or speaker clubs where peers encourage growth without judgment.
• Use Positive Self-Talk, Not Fear-Driven Self-Talk – Instead of “I will not mess up,” tell yourself “I will share value with my audience” or “I will convey my core message clearly.”
• Adopt the “Audience First” Mindset – Shift focus away from self-consciousness and toward delivering relevance to your audience, whether they are novices or experts.
• Simulate the Speaking Environment – Practise in a setting similar to your real speaking venue to reduce surprises on the day.
• Pair Skills with Breathing & Composure Techniques – Controlled breathing calms adrenaline and steadies your voice, helping you begin calm, grow warm, and end on a positive high.
• Never Settle for Mediocrity – See each attempt as a stepping stone; embrace small wins and keep aiming for greater challenges.

“Best Course for Kids Who Are Talkative at Home but Shy in Public”

At Public Speaking Academy, our Speech Excellence Program (SEP) is designed to help children aged 7–18 turn their at-home expressiveness into confident public speaking skills. While some kids are chatty and animated at home, they may struggle to articulate ideas clearly or freeze when speaking to unfamiliar people.

Through consistent, structured speaking opportunities each week, our young learners practise in a safe yet progressively challenging environment. They learn speech frameworks to organise their thoughts, build coherence so their ideas flow logically, and develop clarity of speech to be understood by any audience.

By combining theme-based monthly modules (e.g., storytelling, persuasive speaking, debate fundamentals) with trainer feedback and peer practice, students gradually grow comfortable speaking beyond their home circle. Over time, they not only speak as freely in public as they do at home, but they also speak with greater purpose and impact.

Quick Tips to Help Kids Transfer Confidence from Home to Public Settings:

• Build Coherence with Frameworks – Teach simple speech structures (e.g., Point–Reason–Example) so ideas are organised, not scattered, when speaking in public.
• Practise in Gradual Exposure Stages – Start with small, friendly audiences, then gradually increase group size to normalise public speaking.
• Simulate “Stranger” Situations – Role-play with unfamiliar adults or peers to replicate the feeling of speaking to non-family members.
• Use Familiar Topics First – Let kids speak about hobbies or favourite stories before moving to more abstract or academic topics.
• Incorporate Regular, Low-Stakes Speaking – Frequent short speaking opportunities build fluency and reduce “stage shock” moments.
• Balance Expressiveness and Clarity – Channel their natural talkativeness into structured, purposeful sharing rather than unfiltered chatter.
• Celebrate Small Public Wins – Acknowledge progress after each successful speaking attempt to boost motivation and self-belief.

“Training for Teens Who Speak Too Fast or Mumble”

For teens who speak too quickly or mumble, the Speech Excellence Program (SEP) at Public Speaking Academy is designed to address both the technical and mindset aspects of clear communication.

When a teen speaks too fast, it often shows a lack of awareness of how much the audience can actually retain — the message becomes harder to follow and loses coherence. In SEP, we teach students to structure their thoughts and fit them into relevant speech frameworks (persuasive, informative, impromptu) so that their delivery is strategic, impactful, and easy for the audience to absorb.

When a teen mumbles, it’s often due to a lack of confidence — both in their content and in their ability to deliver it. This habit can stem from fear of audience judgment. Our training builds self-assurance in content mastery, vocal variety, and projection, helping students speak clearly, confidently, and with presence in any setting.

Through weekly guided speaking opportunities, targeted feedback on pacing and enunciation, and exercises to connect empathetically with the audience, students learn not just to speak clearly, but to make their words resonate.

Quick Tips to Help Teens Slow Down and Enunciate

1. Break Down Complex Words – Split multi-syllable words into parts during practice (e.g., “go-vern-ment” instead of “gah-ment”).
2. Think of the Audience First – Ask: “Will my listener remember this?” to encourage slowing down for better retention.
3. Savour the Pronunciation – Especially on key points, slow slightly to let words land clearly.
4. Boost Confidence Through Practice – Pair regular speaking drills with positive self-talk and posture awareness.
5. Read Aloud Daily – Focus on a comfortable, deliberate pace to build habit.

With the right balance of empathy for the audience, structured thinking, and confidence in delivery, teens can turn rushed or mumbled speech into impactful, memorable communication.

“Speaking Course for Professionals Who Go Off-Topic or Ramble”

For many professionals, rambling is not about lack of intelligence — it’s about lack of structure. Without a clear mental roadmap, ideas spill out in a scattered way, making it harder for your audience to follow or take action. At Public Speaking Academy, our World Champion Certification Program (WCCP) trains professionals to structure thoughts under pressure, stay relevant to the audience’s needs, and communicate with precision.

In WCCP, we work on:

• Speech frameworks such as PEEL (Point, Explain, Example, Link), persuasive structures, and impromptu response techniques.
• Audience-centred thinking to filter what’s essential versus distracting.
• Relevance drills where participants must respond to questions or prompts while sticking to time and focus boundaries.

The result? You’ll replace meandering monologues with concise, engaging, and actionable communication — whether in presentations, meetings, or Q&A sessions.

Quick Tips to Stop Rambling and Stay on Track

• Use a Framework – Anchor your points in a repeatable structure like PEEL, Problem–Solution–Benefit, or the 5Ws & 1H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How) to keep ideas flowing with purpose and variety.
• Know Your Key Message – Decide on the one takeaway you want your audience to remember; drop anything that doesn’t serve it.
• Set a Mental Timer – Even without a stopwatch, aim to wrap each key point within 30–45 seconds before transitioning to the next.
• Create a Roadmap Before You Speak – Plan your intro, 2–3 main points, and conclusion. Having this path in mind keeps you from wandering or repeating yourself.
• Signpost Your Progress – Use verbal cues like “First… Next… Finally…” so your audience knows exactly where you are — and so do you.
• Summarize Often – Briefly restate your main point before moving on to keep your audience anchored in your message.
• Practice with Feedback – Record yourself, ask someone to flag drift points, and rehearse with that awareness until clarity becomes second nature.

When you combine audience sensitivity, structured thinking, and disciplined delivery, your words gain clarity and authority — and your audience gains trust.

“Best Communication Class for People Who Avoid Eye Contact”

Avoiding eye contact can make even a well-prepared presentation feel disconnected. While it’s often a symptom of nervousness or self-consciousness, it can also be a habit formed over years of speaking without structured audience engagement training.

At Public Speaking Academy, our programs such as the World Champion Certification Program (WCCP) for adults and the Speech Excellence Program (SEP) for kids and teens tackle eye contact from both a confidence and a technique perspective.

• Confidence-building drills help you get comfortable being “seen” on stage or in meetings.
• Eye contact mapping teaches you how to sweep the room naturally so every audience member feels acknowledged.
• Audience-connection exercises combine verbal and non-verbal communication to project warmth and credibility.

With consistent, guided practice, eye contact stops being a chore and becomes an instinct — one that reinforces trust, presence, and influence in every interaction.

Quick Tips to Build Comfort with Eye Contact

1. Start Small – Practise holding eye contact with one person at a time for 2–3 seconds before moving on.
2. Use the “Triangle Method” – Rotate your gaze between left, right, and centre sections of the audience to avoid staring.
3. Anchor on Friendly Faces – Identify supportive or receptive listeners and use them as your visual checkpoints.
4. Pair Eye Contact with Gestures – Linking your gaze to a purposeful hand movement can make it feel more natural.
5. Practise in Low-Stakes Settings – Start with small meetings or casual conversations to build muscle memory before big presentations.

When you train both the mind (confidence) and the mechanics (technique), eye contact transforms from a fear trigger into one of your strongest connection tools.

“Speaking Workshop for Perfectionists Who Fear Making Mistakes”

Perfectionism can be both a strength and a stumbling block in public speaking. The drive to get every word right often creates unnecessary pressure, leading to hesitation, over-editing mid-sentence, or even freezing up entirely.

At Public Speaking Academy, our programs — especially the World Champion Certification Program (WCCP) for adults and the S’Peak Performance Adult Masterclass (SPP Adult) — help perfectionist speakers reframe their relationship with mistakes.

• Mindset training shifts focus from flawless delivery to audience connection and value.
• Controlled “imperfection” drills teach you to recover naturally when things don’t go as planned.
• Impromptu speaking practice strengthens adaptability so you stop overthinking every word.

Our philosophy is simple: your audience doesn’t need a perfect robot — they want an engaging, human communicator.

Quick Tips for Perfectionists in Public Speaking

1. Redefine Success – Aim to deliver your core message clearly, not to recall every single word exactly.
2. Practise Imperfectly on Purpose – Skip a line, change a word, or drop a note during rehearsal, and practise recovering smoothly.
3. Focus on the Audience, Not Yourself – Shift attention outward; the more you observe and respond to them, the less you fixate on flaws.
4. Adopt the “70% Rule” – If your delivery is 70% of your ideal in rehearsal, it’s usually 100% to your audience.
5. Debrief with Wins First – After each presentation, note what went well before identifying areas to improve.

When you stop treating mistakes as failures and start treating them as part of the performance, you’ll speak with more authenticity, warmth, and confidence.

“Which Course Helps with Overthinking and Stage Anxiety?”

Overthinking before and during a presentation can fuel stage anxiety — and stage anxiety, in turn, can make you overthink even more. This loop leads to mental blank-outs, excessive self-monitoring, and a loss of connection with your audience.

At Public Speaking Academy, our adult programs — especially the World Champion Certification Program (WCCP) and S’Peak Performance Adult Masterclass (SPP Adult) — are designed to break that cycle through:

• Practical exposure in safe, supportive settings, so speaking becomes a familiar, not fear-inducing, experience.
• Impromptu speaking drills that train your brain to respond under pressure without over-analysis.
• Mindset reframing techniques that shift your focus from “What if I fail?” to “How can I help my audience?”
• Feedback loops that highlight strengths as much as areas for growth, helping you build confidence in gradual steps.

We’re not a replacement for professional therapy if anxiety is severe, but for most adults dealing with typical stage jitters, our programs help transform nervous energy into purposeful, audience-focused delivery.

Quick Tips to Reduce Overthinking and Stage Anxiety

1. Replace “What if” with “Even if” – Instead of “What if I forget my lines?”, try “Even if I do, I can still share my main point.”
2. Use Mental Anchors – Have 2–3 key phrases you can always fall back on if you blank out.
3. Rehearse Recovery, Not Just Delivery – Practise skipping a point and moving on smoothly.
4. Ground Yourself Physically – Slow breathing, deliberate posture, and controlled gestures calm both body and mind.
5. Set an Audience Goal – Give yourself a mission like “I will make them smile twice” or “They’ll walk away with one clear takeaway.”

When your focus shifts from perfection to connection, your mind becomes quieter, your delivery more natural, and your stage presence stronger.

“Class for Individuals Who Want to Sound More Authoritative”

Authority in public speaking isn’t about deepening your voice or copying someone else’s style — it’s about projecting confidence, demonstrating competence, and consistently engaging your audience. This presence is cultivated over time, as you master a variety of speaking contexts:

• Handling Q&A sessions with confident, concise impromptu responses.
• Using persuasive speech structures to win buy-in for ideas, proposals, or deals.
• Applying storytelling and presentation skills to inspire, motivate, and lead in formal settings.

At Public Speaking Academy, both our World Champion Certification Program (WCCP) for adults and S’Peak Performance Adult Masterclass (SPP Adult) build these authority pillars through:

• Speech structure mastery – ensuring every answer or presentation is coherent, compelling, and purposeful.
• Delivery training – refining tone, pacing, body language, and vocal variety for maximum impact.
• Scenario-based practice – simulating meetings, pitches, and conferences so authority becomes second nature.

The result? You don’t just sound authoritative — you become someone audiences trust, follow, and remember.

Quick Tips to Speak with More Authority

1. Structure Before Speaking – Even a short response benefits from a clear beginning, middle, and end.
2. Pause with Purpose – Strategic pauses signal confidence and allow key points to land.
3. Match Tone to Message – Use vocal variety, not just volume, to convey leadership and certainty.
4. Lead with Value – Start with the most relevant insight your audience needs to hear.
5. Practise Across Contexts – The more varied your speaking scenarios, the more adaptable and credible you become.

Authority is less about “sounding commanding” and more about earning trust — something that comes from skill, preparation, and connection.

“How to Help a Child Who’s Overly Dependent on Memorized Scripts”

For prepared speeches, it’s natural — and even beneficial — for a child to rehearse enough to fully internalize their content. But when it comes to on-the-spot speaking (impromptu speeches, Q&A, class discussions), leaning too heavily on a script can reduce eye contact, block facial expressions, and make delivery sound robotic.

At Public Speaking Academy, our kids’ programs — especially the Speech Excellence Program (SEP) and S’Peak Performance Kids Holiday Program (SPP Kids) — train students to:

• Structure thoughts quickly using proven persuasive, informative, and impromptu frameworks.
• Rely on prompts instead of full scripts, giving them the freedom to use natural gestures and connect with their audience.
• Practise recovery strategies so forgetting a line never derails their confidence.

This consistent exposure to prepared and impromptu speaking opportunities helps students become both coherent and expressive — even without a word-for-word script.

Quick Tips to Reduce Script Dependence

1. Break It Down – Use the Full-Half-One method: know the full speech, the half-length version, and the one-sentence summary for each key point.
2. Use Prompts, Not Pages – Replace full text with bullet points or cue words to jog memory without breaking eye contact.
3. Practise “Pause, Project, Recover” – If you forget a line, pause calmly, project forward to the next point you remember, and circle back naturally.
4. Rehearse Beyond the Script – Practise delivering your points in different wordings so you can adapt on the spot.
5. Lower the Script – If you must hold it, keep it low enough so your audience can still see your facial expressions.

When children are taught to trust both their preparation and their ability to adapt, they develop a natural, confident speaking style — without being chained to a script.

“Course for Adults Who Struggle with Small Talk and Networking”

If you find networking sessions draining or small talk awkward, you’re not alone. Many professionals are confident in formal presentations but freeze in casual, unstructured conversations. The key is learning to connect authentically, ask the right questions, and keep the exchange engaging without feeling forced.

At Public Speaking Academy, both our World Champion Certification Program (WCCP) and S’Peak Performance Adult Masterclass (SPP Adult) help participants:

• Develop conversation frameworks to make introductions and transitions smooth.
• Apply active listening and callback techniques to build rapport naturally.
• Use storytelling and relevance checks to turn small talk into meaningful exchanges.
• Read the room and adapt your tone, pace, and body language to suit different social settings.

Through interactive role-plays, impromptu speaking drills, and live networking practice, participants build confidence to handle any social encounter — from a quick elevator introduction to an extended industry mixer.

Quick Tips for Better Small Talk & Networking

1. Avoid Closed-Ended Questions – Replace yes/no queries with open-ended ones like “Tell me about…” to spark richer conversation.
2. Build Your “Story Bank” – Collect anecdotes, observations, and memorable phrases so you can avoid conversation-ending replies like “Same old, same old.”
3. Don’t Rush Your Responses – A slight pause can project thoughtfulness and sincerity. Clarify if needed with phrases like “If I understand you correctly…”
4. Have a Conversation Framework – For professional networking, use overviews and summaries; for casual settings, ensure you’re not monopolizing the stage-time.
5. Mix Empathy with Curiosity – Listen actively for personal hooks in what others share, then circle back to them later to deepen rapport.

Small talk isn’t about filling the air — it’s about creating a connection. With the right skills and a bit of rehearsal, you can make networking feel less like a chore and more like an opportunity.

More tips on public speaking & communication skills

Check out our tips on the following five communication topics:

Speaking Confidence Building Strategy

Body Language Techniques

Effective Presentation Techniques

Linguistic skills

Impromptu Speaking / Think-fast-on-the-feet skills

Our Public speaking & Presentation Skills Training Courses

If you’re keen on taking your communication skills to the next level, to improve your persuasive speaking skills through our training programs:

Click for more about our (weekly group classes) Public Speaking Courses for Adults

Click for more about our (2-day) public speaking/ presentation course for adults

Click for more about our (weekly group classes) Public Speaking Course for Kids / Children

Click for more about our (2-day) public speaking holiday program for Kids / Children

Click for more about our (2-half-day) DSA interview skills holiday program for Kids / Children