Tips to Eliminate Fear of Public Speaking

For many, even the thought of speaking in front of a group of people is enough to make knees begin to knock and hands tremble. There is really nothing inherent in public speaking to cause so much fear and loathing. A few stress-alleviation tips go a long way toward easing those jittery nerves and setting the stage for a nice, relaxed delivery.

Measuring Up

• To help conquer nerves, the speaker is advised to not consider himself a public speaker, according to Dr. Morton C. Orman of StressCure.com. People often have inflated images of successful public speakers and try to measure up to this unrealistic ideal. A speaker thinks that if he is not as polished, witty and intelligent-sounding as the ideal, then the speech is going to be a failure. This kind of thinking causes the speaker to try to be someone he is not -- a recipe for stress.

Humor and Humility

• The speaker is to feel free to show a little humility and humor in front of the audience. This is not only enjoyable for the audience, but also gives the speaker more credibility and, interestingly, more respect, says Orman. It also eases the speaker's fear level. Using personal shortcomings to make a point, or even letting the audience in on the fact that she is experiencing a little nervousness, works wonders in creating a bond with the audience and, paradoxically, relaxing the nerves.

Control

• A speaker is to keep in mind that he does not need to control the audience's behavior. A speaker has enough on his mind in the delivery of the speech without having to control the audience's behavior as well. If there is fidgeting, whispering, reading or sleeping -- so be it, says Orman. The need to control others is a constant source of stress in life; the same is true for the public speaker. Unless someone is purposely heckling the speaker, it is best to leave the audience alone.

Over-Preparation

• According to Orman, the more a speaker prepares, the worse she is likely to perform -- which causes even more stress. Over-preparation allows a speaker's misperceptions about public speaking to take control of the delivery and even the content of the speech. For instance, the speaker believes that she is to measure up and be loved by every member of the audience. Such wrong ideas change the way the speaker rehearses and, ultimately, delivers her speech. All the speaker needs, says Orman, are two or three key points and a few supporting facts and examples. Often, a few minutes of preparation is enough.