How to Overcome Nervousness During Public Speaking

Have you ever left an event wishing your public speaking were as good as the presenter's? Many people experience anxiety when speaking in front of others, be it a room full of colleagues or an auditorium filled with hundreds of people. Familiarize yourself with several techniques for overcoming public speaking nervousness so that your next speaking engagement can be a fun and rewarding experience.

Instructions

1. Understand that it is fine to stumble or stutter once or twice during a speech--it happens, sometimes even to the most confident speakers. Do not expect absolute perfection. However, get in the habit of practicing your material more thoroughly if you find yourself consistently stumbling during presentations.

2. Smile and keep smiling--at appropriate moments--throughout the speech. Along with smiling, weaving in remarks that are humorous or reflect your humility help to create a welcoming atmosphere, which can make you feel like you are talking to a group of friends as opposed to strangers.

3. Dress in classy, elegant attire, which will increase both you and your audience's confidence in your professionalism.

4. Eliminate your fear of judgment or rejection. If you sincerely believe that your presentation is interesting or helpful to the audience, then it will come across precisely in that way as you speak, increasing your confidence.

5. Make sure your tone and the words you choose reflect your passion for the subject. The more enthused you are, the more the audience will be interested in your message, as opposed to how you deliver it.

Tips & Warnings

• A concise skeleton outline of your presentation is helpful to glace at if you lose your place while speaking.

References

• How to conquer public speaking fear
• Managing speaking apprehension

Resources

• Public speaking hacks