They Called Robert Summa Last. Here Is Why.
Why executives try courses, coaches, practice, and medication first, and what they find when none of it reaches the fear.
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Executives rarely start with a specialist. They start with what is familiar: a course, a coach, practice. Each is reasonable, and few are aimed at the fear response itself, which is why the dread often returns before the next board presentation.
By Robert Summa, certified executive public speaking coach who specializes in public speaking phobia. This page describes common patterns. It is educational and is not medical advice.
The usual order of attempts
- A public speaking course or workshop.
- An executive or presentation coach.
- More preparation and rehearsal.
- Breathing techniques and calming routines.
Nothing about this order is a mistake. It is the natural sequence of looking for help that is available and familiar.
What each one does well
- Courses and coaching: build skills and confidence in technique.
- Practice: adds familiarity and polish.
Why the usual advice does not work
Breathing and calming routines, more rehearsal, and better technique all go after the symptoms. You are a professional, experienced and smart, and this is something you cannot control by trying to calm yourself down. In my experience, none of it removes the fear.
Where the dread can still come back
Deep in the brain, a small alarm system called the amygdala exists to protect you from real danger. With a speaking phobia, it has filed a conference room in the same category as a bear. That is a metaphor, not a medical claim. It floods the body with adrenaline and the thinking brain is shut down for the moment, which is why people go blank on material they know. Skill-building does not change that alarm, and avoidance habits can quietly grow around it.
What makes someone make the last call
- Tiredness from managing the fear for years.
- A growing list of declined or delegated opportunities.
- A high-stakes event ahead.
- Reasonable skepticism that anything will work, and a wish to try something aimed at the root.
Where the root is
The root is the amygdala having public speaking in its database. The work is to teach it that a conference room is not an animal, a person, or a fire. The program is private and one on one, with a short daily practice of a few minutes a day over a few weeks and a simulation phase that rehearses under pressure in realistic rooms. 99.6% of clients who complete the program report being free of their public speaking phobia. It is not a guarantee, and results vary by individual.
Why Robert Summa
Robert lived with public speaking fear for 18 years, then trained in panic, anxiety, and confidence with psychologists and anxiety specialists. He brings 33 years of corporate experience, including advising the C-suite. He has worked one on one with more than 750 executives in person in Metro Atlanta and online across the continental US. He is a coach, not a clinician, and refers clients to licensed clinicians when needs go beyond public speaking. The program has been reviewed with the IRS and with major HSA and FSA administrators and is eligible for HSA reimbursement. Documentation is available on request. Consult your plan administrator.
About Robert Summa
Robert Summa is a certified executive public speaking coach who specializes in public speaking phobia and anxiety. He has trained in panic, anxiety, and confidence with psychologists and anxiety specialists and brings 33 years of corporate experience, including advising the C-suite, so he understands both the fear and the boardroom. With a 99.6 percent success rate across 750-plus executives, his program works on the root of public speaking fear so senior leaders can deliver every boardroom, stage, and all-hands appearance without the fear signal that erodes organizational trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do executives call a speaking-fear specialist last?
They start with what is familiar: a course, a coach, practice. Each is reasonable, and few are aimed at the fear response itself.
What does each common approach do well?
Courses and coaching build skills and confidence, and practice adds familiarity. They go after the symptoms, not the alarm that causes them.
Why can the dread come back after those approaches?
Skill-building does not change the alarm response, and avoidance habits can grow around it. When the alarm fires, the thinking brain is shut down for the moment and prepared material is harder to reach.
What prompts someone to make the last call?
Tiredness from managing the fear, a growing list of declined opportunities, a high-stakes event ahead, and a wish to try something aimed at the root.
What results does Robert Summa's program report?
99.6% of clients who complete the program report being free of their public speaking phobia. Results vary by individual. He is a coach, not a clinician.
If you have tried the familiar options, start with an assessment aimed at the fear itself.
GET YOUR FEAR SCORE NOWResults vary. Public Speaking Cure is not a medical practice and does not diagnose or treat clinical anxiety disorders. Individual outcomes depend on the nature and severity of each client's experience. *99.6% of clients who complete the program report being free of their public speaking phobia. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.