Learning to Overcome Fear of Speaking in Public

The nerves and anxiety associated with public speaking -- whether to a small or large group -- are overwhelming and even debilitating to some people. Your fear may stem from personal insecurities or from being unsure about the material you are presenting. Regardless of what is triggering your fear, there are steps you can implement to increase your confidence and to reduce your fear of public speaking.

Instructions

• 1

  Realize that you don't have to give a perfect speech and that your audience doesn't expect perfection. Your audience wants to feel that their time was well spent -- that they learned something, or that you entertained them.

• 2

  Leave nothing to chance. Prepare yourself thoroughly, as this will increase your confidence. Know your material and be clear on the points you want to present. Practice your speech in front of a friend so you can get constructive criticism.

• 3

  Practice visualization techniques where you imagine that you are speaking to a crowd. End the visualization with a successful outcome. By visualizing your speech, you will subconsciously start believing that you can successfully complete it, which will increase your self-confidence.

• 4

  Avoid overwhelming your audience with too much knowledge, because this can make your speech boring. Focus on only a few key points. Tell stories to get your points across and to engage your audience.

• 5

  Add humor to your speech and share your weaknesses with your audience. This will engage your audience and make them realize that you are one of them. They will root for you and will want you to do well.

• 6

  Sip water during your speech if you mouth gets dry. Interlock your hands to keep them from shaking. Breathe deeply and take a pause to keep yourself relaxed and gather your thoughts. Shift your weight if your knees are trembling.

• 7

  Accept the fact that nothing bad can happen to you while making your speech. If you faint or the audience walks out, you can learn from it and use it as a joke during your next speech.