S.T.A.N.D. and Deliver – Part 4

Nerves are just noise, and noise can be quieted. Here are the two kinds of noise every speaker faces and five practical ways to calm both before you step on stage.

In Part 1, I shared how great communication starts with serving your audience. In Part 2, we explored how to build trust. In Part 3, we talked about the power of authenticity through vulnerability.

Today, we’re moving to the next piece of the framework.

N is for Noise

Let’s be honest. Speaking nerves are real.

No matter how well you prepare, sometimes your heart pounds, your hands sweat, and your brain starts running wild. That’s the noise, and if you don’t quiet it, it’ll drown out your message before you even start.

But noise doesn’t only show up on stage. It shows up long before you ever grab a mic. There are two kinds of noise, external and internal. Both need to be silenced.

Internal noise: negativity, lies, and shame

In Part 1, I mentioned how God’s voice often sounds a lot like your own, but contains wisdom you know you don’t possess.

Well, the enemy’s voice sounds a lot like your own, too. But it’s filled with lies, negativity, and shame.

That voice tells you:

“You’re not qualified.”

“This is going to go badly.”

“You’re not as good as they think you are.”

And it’s all false.

When that voice gets loud, it helps to go back to the first three steps of this framework:

Serve: It’s not about you. It’s about them.

Trust: You’ve done the work. You’ve earned your place.

Authenticity: You’re not here to be perfect. You’re here to be real.

Let those truths speak louder than the lies.

External noise: nerves before and during the talk

Nerves are just another form of noise. They disrupt your breathing. They cloud your focus. They make your voice tremble and your energy scatter.

So how do we quiet that noise? Here are five practical techniques I use before every speaking opportunity to create calm, clarity, and presence.

Five ways to quiet the noise

Breathe on purpose. Slow, steady breaths calm your nerves and center your mind.

Plant your feet. Physical grounding leads to mental grounding. Don’t pace. Own your space.

Anchor with eye contact. Find one friendly face and start there. Build connection one person at a time.

Pause before power. A short pause before you begin creates calm and commands attention.

Shrink the spotlight. Don’t think of a crowd. Think of a conversation. Speak as if you’re talking to one person who needs what you’re about to say.

The world is loud. Your mind is loud. But your message deserves to be heard. Quiet the noise. Breathe. Ground. Connect. Let your message rise above the static.

Tomorrow’s installment: “D is for Drill.” We’ll wrap up the series with the most underrated step in all of public speaking: preparation. Because when the moment comes to deliver, the time to drill is already behind you.

So I have a question for you

Which kind of noise is loudest for you right now, the voice in your head or the nerves in your body?

Which of these five techniques will you use before your next talk?

If you want help quieting the noise and delivering with confidence, that is exactly what my keynotes, workshops, and leadership sessions are built for. Learn more at taianderson.live/keynotes.

Originally published on LinkedIn, October 9, 2025.