"Speaking as someone who did a lot of competitive public speaking back in the day, the frisson of "panic" just before you start is your friend. I'm worried if I don't feel it."
My background is singing professionally (in the past) rather than speaking, but it's fairly similar for the sake of this point.
I agree with the adrenaline being your friend, but disagree that not feeling it is a bad sign. I always found that the amount of adrenaline/panic correlated mostly with the importance of the performance, and a little to do with what the performance was. When it came it was a friend to embrace not ignore, when it didn't it just meant (for me) that it was an easier gig, and I could do as good a job without any emotions boiling up.
My background is singing professionally (in the past) rather than speaking, but it's fairly similar for the sake of this point.
I agree with the adrenaline being your friend, but disagree that not feeling it is a bad sign. I always found that the amount of adrenaline/panic correlated mostly with the importance of the performance, and a little to do with what the performance was. When it came it was a friend to embrace not ignore, when it didn't it just meant (for me) that it was an easier gig, and I could do as good a job without any emotions boiling up.