“A first recorded instance of “presentation anxiety” occurred around 1300BC when God commissioned Moses to urge Pharaoh to free the Hebrew slaves. “Please send someone else!” pleaded Moses to God. “I'm a nobody. I'm not eloquent. I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Perhaps he stuttered.

Poor Moses. As well as having to argue with God and Pharaoh – and convince the Hebrews they should follow him to the Promised Land – he had to overcome his insecurity as a speaker.

Moses’ story reveals an important truth – the more we speak in public, the less our fears intrude and the more we grow in confidence. If Moses, the self-confessed “nobody”, could surmount his fears, so too can we.”