How to Cure Fear of Speaking

Chances are that if you've graduated high school or entered the work force, you have either participated in, or listened to, a public speech. Fear of speaking in public is common. Yet public speaking seems to be an unavoidable right of passage at work, in school or among peers. Conquering your fear of giving speeches in public is an ongoing process. Preparation and confidence go a long way toward conquering your fear of public speaking.

Things You'll Need

• Notecards

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Instructions

• 1

  Prepare yourself well before your speaking engagement. Create an outline that specifically details all the information that you'll present to the audience. Use cue cards that denote key information that you can refer to during the speech, in case you need prompting to continue.

  Also research your audience and the event thoroughly before speaking. Depending on the circumstances, the event may be a formal engagement that requires extra attention to detail, or it could be a relaxed affair with individuals not as concerned with statistics and analytical data. Understanding the audience beforehand will allow you to prepare effectively before you speak.

  Visit the location of your speech a few days in advance of speaking there. Doing so allows you to get acclimated the how close you are to the audience, where to set up equipment such as mics and laptops for presentations, and how much space you have to freely move.

• 2

  Practice thoroughly in advance of your speech. Rehearse the actual speech several times by yourself. Doing so builds confidence in knowing the material, and this alleviates stress. Rehearse in the mirror with notecards to build confidence in speaking, and imitate the eye contact you'll make with the audience. Once you become more comfortable, practice in front of close, trusted friends. They'll provide you with invaluable advice and insight to use for your actual speech. Refer to any presentation tools you may use during the speech and acclimate yourself to using them while you're practicing.

• 3

  Develop a backup plan in case any problems arise during the speech. Regardless of how prepared you may be, mistakes are bound to happen. Stumbling over words, especially when nervous, is bound to happen, as is the occasional mind "blank," when it becomes impossible to remember anything. In the event of a similar situation happening to you, refer to your notecards to get back on track during your speech. Take a few seconds to release a deep breath and calm down before you begin speaking again.

• 4

  Reduce the fear of your audience prior to speaking. Before you speak, visualize your audience to be as caring and concerned as the friends who heard you while practicing. Pick out a friendly face beforehand and occasionally look at her when making eye contact. If the prospect of looking at your audience during a speech is too daunting, look at a common area behind the listeners as a means of making eye contact. If you have to answer questions afterward, only respond to questions that you can confidently respond to. Ask individuals with difficult questions to meet you after the presentation to discuss it further.

• 5

  Relax. Leave a few minutes before speaking to take deep breaths and reassure yourself that you're completely prepared. When called up to speak, take a few seconds to gather yourself. When mentally ready, start your speech.