From the Podium to the Tee Box: How Mindset Drives Performance
Public speaking anxiety is one of the most common fears…and it is often ranked higher than the fear of death.
As Jerry Seinfeld famously joked:
“If this is true, then this means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”
Humor aside, fear is real!
Before stepping up to speak, many professionals experience a familiar internal dialogue:
Let me just get this over with.
I don’t belong in this room.
Everyone here is smarter than I am.
What will they think of me?
What if I forget everything I practiced?
Sound familiar?
Interestingly, these thoughts closely mirror what many golfers experience when they step onto the tee box to hit their first drive of the day.
Different setting. Same mindset.
At the core of both experiences is the inner narrative we create—and how we manage it.
Strategies to Reset Your Mindset (Before Speaking or Swinging)
Whether you are preparing for a presentation or lining up your first shot, the following techniques can help you perform with greater confidence:
Pause and breathe. A slow inhale and full exhale signals calm to your nervous system.
Reframe nervousness as excitement. Physiologically, they feel almost identical. That surge of adrenaline can sharpen your performance.
Remind yourself why you are there. You were asked to speak because you bring value and expertise.
Shift the focus away from yourself. Speaking is not about you—it is about serving your audience. When you focus on their needs, self-consciousness fades.
Focus on what you want to happen. Don’t rehearse failure; visualize success.
Stay present.If something goes off script, trust that you have a Plan B (or C). Audiences …and golf partners…pay close attention to how you respond to adversity.
The story you tell yourself matters. What we repeatedly say in our own minds often becomes our reality. Choose a narrative that supports confidence, clarity, and composure.
If you would like to explore these parallels further, I invite you to download my complimentary eBook, “Tee Up Your Speech: Golf Is Like Public Speaking.”
For questions or more information, feel free to reach out at
LKWilner@successfully-speaking.com.