How to Speak Without Fear

Even if your career does not involve public speaking, chances are you'll be called upon at some point in your life to speak in front of a group of people. It could be a small engagement, such as a company meeting in which you're asked to report on your department, or a larger venue in front of hundreds or thousands of people. If this thought terrifies you, you are not alone. Following these steps will alleviate some of your fear of public speaking.

Instructions

• 1

  Prepare for your speaking engagement. If you're giving a lengthy speech, make sure you've researched the topic and are familiar with it so you can speak intelligently. Be sure you understand each concept you'll be discussing and know how to pronounce all the pertinent words. For shorter speeches, or speeches that don't require remembering a large amount of knowledge, it's still important to familiarize yourself with the information you plan to discuss.

• 2

  Draft your speech. Start by outlining your key points, then flesh out each point with facts that support it. Once you have a solid outline, evaluate it and make sure all relevant information is in the correct place. Next, begin writing out what you'd like to say. While you don't want your speech to sound memorized, you also don't want to be floundering around for the right words.

• 3

  Practice your speech repeatedly. It is important to read your speech over once you've finished it, but after that, you have to practice it out loud many times. Deliver it the way you plan to deliver the real speech, and enlist some volunteers to form your "audience" if you can. Rework any spots that seem to be giving you difficulty. If you are using any visual aids, incorporate them into your practice sessions so you become comfortable with them.

• 4

  Make note cards. While you shouldn't read your speech in its entirety, you should prepare note cards that indicate each main point along with a couple of words on each point you want to make. This will help you remember where you are if you get sidetracked or lose your place in the speech.

• 5

  Arrive early and get to know the setup. Walk around the room and visualize it filled with people. Remember, they aren't there to root for your demise. They want to hear what you have to say. Check out the sound system before people arrive, and double-check any presentation equipment to confirm it's working and set up properly.

• 6

  Remain calm. This is probably easier said than done, but it is important to keep calm and not overthink the speaking engagement. This will surely lead to anxiety. Start your speech by addressing the audience and telling them a bit about yourself. Make eye contact, and remember that these people want to hear what you have to say.