Public Speaking with a Stutter: A Practical Guide to Owning the Stage

Hey friends,

Let’s talk about something that strikes fear into the hearts of many — public speaking. And if you’re someone who stutters? That fear can feel 10x bigger.

I used to believe public speaking wasn’t for people like me. I thought fluency was a requirement. That I had to "fix" my speech before I could speak in front of others.

But I’ve learned something different. Something powerful:

💡 You don’t need to be fluent to be effective — you just need to be heard.

Today, I want to give you real, actionable tools to help you speak confidently in front of others as someone who stutters. Not despite it — but because you’re embracing your voice fully.

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🎯 Step 1: Know Your Purpose Before You Speak

Before any talk, ask yourself:

• What’s the core message I want to share?

• What do I want the audience to feel or do after I speak?

Clarity creates confidence. If you focus on impact, fluency becomes less important.

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🛠️ Step 2: Use These 5 Tools to Set Yourself Up for Success

Here are practical techniques I personally use — and recommend to my clients and community:

1. Start with a breath
   Take a full diaphragmatic breath before you speak. It calms your nervous system and gives you control.

2. Own the block
   If you feel a block coming, don’t fight it. Pause, breathe, and move through it. Resistance makes it worse — acceptance gives you power.

3. Use strategic pauses
   Pausing is a powerful communication tool. It gives your audience time to absorb your message — and gives you space to speak more easily.

4. Speak slowly and intentionally
   Rushing creates tension. Slowing down gives you room to breathe and reduces pressure on your words.

5. Reframe the fear
   Nervousness and excitement feel the same in the body. Tell yourself: “This is energy I can use.”

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💬 Bonus: What to Say If You Want to Address Your Stutter

Sometimes, naming the elephant in the room can set you free. If you’re giving a talk, try saying something like:

“Just a heads up — I stutter sometimes. It’s just how I talk. Thanks for listening.”

You don’t have to say anything. But when you do, it can dissolve the tension — for you and the audience.

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🔁 Practice Exercise You Can Do Today

Want to get better right now?

Here’s a powerful exercise:

1. Choose a short script or a paragraph you like.

2. Record yourself reading it out loud as slowly as possible while breathing intentionally between phrases.

3. Watch the video and note:

   • What went well?

   • Where did you tense up or rush?

   • Where can you pause more?

Repeat this 3x a week and you’ll start seeing real change in your confidence.

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💡 Final Thought

You don’t need to be fluent to be a phenomenal speaker.

Your stutter doesn’t make you less capable — it makes you more human, more relatable, and more you.

Your voice matters. Not after you fix it. Right now. As it is.

Speak anyway. The world needs to hear you.

With you,
Shane.
Founder of StutterConnect