Dealing With Audience Judgment

One of the things that freaks a lot of people out about public speaking is the idea that their audience is going to judge them. And I want to share a couple of thoughts about that, especially for anyone working on their presentation skills and professional presence.

This was definitely the sort of thing that used to freak me out. Back in my teens and twenties, I couldn’t stand the idea of putting myself at the center of attention in front of people I didn’t know well and letting them judge me. But over time, I’ve come to recognize a few powerful truths about judgment and stage fright.

First, judgment is something that happens. People just judge. I know that I judge people, and it simply works better to allow others to judge me too. I can’t stop it—so I shouldn’t fight it. Instead, I should accept it with confidence and authenticity.

Second, I realized that the best defense is a good offense. When I think of my audience as judging me, it creates a dynamic where they’re on the offense and I’m on the defense—trying to figure out how to get them to like me or agree with me. But when I shift my mindset to one of leadership communication—showing up with an agenda to help my audience—it completely changes my presence.

In that mindset, I’m not defining success as “Do they like me?” or “Do they agree with me?” Instead, success becomes: “Am I making my point clearly? Am I delivering value? Am I connecting with my audience through authentic communication?”

When I focus on understanding my audience’s challenges and goals, I can tailor my message to serve them. Then I’m not there to be judged—I’m there to help. That simple shift transforms fear into confidence, and anxiety into connection.

If I walk away from a presentation feeling like, “Yes, I made the most of my time. I helped them as much as I could,” I feel empowered and effective. That mindset keeps me on offense—proactive, calm, and confident—rather than defensive or fearful.

So give that a shot. The next time you feel nervous about speaking, reframe it. Think less about being judged and more about how you can make a positive difference for your audience. You’ll find your stage presence strengthens, your public speaking confidence grows, and your communication becomes much more powerful.