Ten Steps to Fearless Public Speaking

There is plenty of dubious material which suggests you can combat public speaking fear. Much of it includes fancy techniques such as 'visualisation' or 'breathing techniques'. Well, they might work. But this ten step system is GUARANTEED TO WORK. That's because instead of fancy tricks and techniques, this system of dealing with public speaking fear uses your body's natural defences against fear.

STEP ONE
Prepare well. Naturally enough, the more prepared you are the more likely you are to feel in control, which will NATURALLY help your nervousness reduce.

STEP TWO
Practice, practice, practice. You can't do too much practice. Don't listen to those people who say you can over-practice. Tell that to circus artists who practice day in day out for decades, just to get their act right. You don't hear actors and musicians complaining they had 'too much' rehearsal time. The more your rehearse, the better.

STEP THREE
Say your speech OUT LOUD. Whether you are in the car, the bath, or going for a walk with the dog, say it out loud. Going through your talk 'in your head' means you don't benefit from something called 'psychomotor memory' - whereby the memory for what you need to say is partly embedded in the muscles of your mouth.

STEP FOUR
Get to the venue early. Get a feel for the room. Sit where the audience will sit so you can see it from their perspective. Walk around the auditorium. Practice your speech on the stage itself. The more comfortable you are with the room, the less your nerves will be.

STEP FIVE
Get some exercise. A walk, a swim, a session in the gym, it doesn't matter what you do, as long as you get some exercise in the couple of hours before your talk. That way you'll change the chemistry of your blood supply in your own favour. Exercise is essential in reducing nerves. Do not skimp on this.

STEP SIX
Chew some mints or sweets. While waiting to go on stage, chew something. This will produce saliva which also helps reduce nerves. If you drink water your saliva production will go down and your nervousness will rise. Avoid water when presenting.

STEP SEVEN
When you go up on stage, smile. No matter how false it feels to you, the audience won't notice. Just smile. It helps produce hormones that lead to a more relaxed feeling.

STEP EIGHT
Be active on the stage. Move around, use big gestures and get as much body movement as you can. The more you move the more relaxed you will feel.

STEP NINE
Look people in the eye. Make as much eye contact as you can. The more the better. Eye contact is essential in helping you feel good and reducing your nerves.

STEP TEN
Use feedback. Always gain feedback on your speeches. You'll soon discover you are a lot better than you think you are, which is bound to help boost your confidence.

Graham Jones is a psychologist and public speaker. He has helped over 17,000 people overcome their fear of public speaking. He runs The Presentation Business to help you speak in public. See: The Presentation Business

Or sign up for a series of tips via email: tips@presentationbiz.com

TeenVogue.com

9 Public Speaking Tips to Get Over Stage Fright TeenVogue.com Ugh, public speaking. That's generally how most people feel about the topic — 90% of us, in fact. According to Forbes, only about 10 percent of the population actually loves public speaking. Ten percent is cripplingly terrified of it (the name for ...

The Tennessean

Afraid of talking in front of a crowd? Here's how to become an expert at public speaking The Tennessean Do you have glossophobia? Are you familiar with the term? Glossophobia is the anxiety of public speaking and approximately 75 percent of people have this fear. Jerry Seinfeld jokes that at a funeral, most people would rather be lying in a casket than ...

CNBC

The No. 1 way for introverts to become better at public speaking CNBC If you identify as an introvert, public speaking can seem like a daunting task. In fact, it's tiring and emotionally laborious to express a personality that isn't yours, says Susan Cain, the best-selling author of "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a ...

Fast Company

Let Your Favorite Podcast Hosts Fix Your Public Speaking Problems Fast Company Podcast hosts from NPR, WNYC Studios, and more explain why they let themselves say “like” and “um” as much as they want. and more »

The Debrief

We Asked Some Female Comedians To Give Us Public Speaking Advice The Debrief If the thought of doing a speech at a wedding, a work presentation or literally any public speaking gives you a dry mouth and a feeling of abject dread, then we've got your back. We found three comedians doing hour-long shows in front of actual humans ...

The National Enquirer

Boozing Is Poison For Public Speaking The National Enquirer Boozers are losers — The National ENQUIRER has learned from a new study by a German research team! The study sought to verify whether or not a calming your nerves with a glass of wine or a whiskey shot would help you ace a big speech.

Deadline For Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Public Speaking Is Fast Approaching BlackburnNews.com Each year the renowned public speaking competition is held at the Royal Agriculture Winter Fair in Toronto, and the deadline is coming up to apply. There are five topics available for 2017, including discussing the problems about feeding 9 billion ...

The Indian Express

Pune NGO to train students, graduates in communication, public ... The Indian Express CITY-BASED NGO, Great Foundation, is organising a training session for schoolchildren and graduates to improve and hone their communication and public ... and more »

Lifehacker

When Public Speaking, Look at Individuals Instead of the Entire Group Lifehacker The next time you're asked to lead a meeting, teach a class, or give a speech, here's one way to get everyone's attention: look at individual people instead of letting your gaze settle on the entire group. As you give your speech or present your ...

Entrepreneur

Not Crazy About Public Speaking? Few of Us Are. Here Are 7 Pointers to Help. Entrepreneur One of the ways I give back to my community -- and strive to be transparent -- is through public speaking events. What's more transparent than what you can see and hear? Related: 5 Public Speaking Secrets That Will Help You Make Your Company Grow.