Need help with public speaking nerves?

To become a more effective communicator, it is important to understand their audience. This means taking the time to understand their motivations and expectations. Knowing your audience helps you to better prepare for a conversation. By understanding their motivations and expectations, you can tailor your message to better resonate with them. Knowing your audience helps to build trust. When show that understand their needs and concerns, stakeholders are more likely to trust message. Knowing audience helps to avoid misunderstandings. By understanding their perspective, can avoid using jargon or technical terms that may be confusing to them. Knowing audience helps to be more persuasive. By tailoring can make a more compelling case.

When I train people, I get them to imagine they’re having a series of 1-1 conversations with the audience. We work on eye contact and the rhythm of moving from person to person. And I teach them how to recognize the moment of connection with each person. Works like a charm!

??Research and understand your audience's needs, interests, and expectations. ??Tailor your message, tone, and style to connect with them effectively. ?Anticipate potential questions or objections and prepare responses. ??Focus on delivering value that resonates with the audience. ??♂?Practice relaxation techniques to calm nerves before speaking. ??Visualize success by imagining a positive response from the audience. ??Rehearse thoroughly to build confidence in your content and delivery. ??Remember, the more you focus on the audience, the less you focus on your nerves.

Know thy audience! It is important to understand your audience for the following reasons - 1. Proper curation of speech for better messaging 2. Familiarity with the audience 3. Connection with the audience Ways to build the connection - 1. Primary/Secondary research about the audience profile 2. Understanding the needs of the audience 3. Engaging the audience during the speech

Practice is an essential part of becoming a polished presenter. ?Practice in the room where will be giving the presentation, if possible. This will help get comfortable with the environment and any equipment will be using. If don't have access to the room, try to create a similar environment as much as possible. ?Practice standing up and using normal speaking voice. Don't try to memorize your presentation word-for-word, but use notes or an outline to guide. ?Consider recording practicing speech, either on audio or video. This can help identify areas where need to improve. ?Invite people to be a practice audience. This can help get comfortable speaking in front of people and provide valuable feedback.

Make a video of your practice sessions! When I was learning PS, unfortunately, video cameras weren't ubiquitous, and I could never go back to a part of my speech to review and correct. Today, since the tech is so easily available, I would suggest everyone to record videos, so they can see what they are doing well, and where they need to improve. This also helps to calm nerves, as you know exactly how you 'look' and 'connect' when delivering.

I have been speaking in front of large audiences for over 15 years and, frankly, have gotten pretty good at it (at least based on the feedback I receive after each speech). If you pulled me randomly out of the audience and asked me to do a 30-minute speech on, say, Digital Transformation, I could do it. But the reason I could do it is because even today, I practice each speech, from start to finish, over a dozen times, every time. The more you practice, the better you will be, full stop. Few things will make you more confident on stage than knowing your material.

Look into a mirror, tell yourself the person you are looking at right now is the fear you had. That’s right, yourself. Tell yourself, once you defeat yourself in this journey, there is nothing you can’t win anymore. Second most important point: when you are on stage, be yourself. Only when you are yourself, you bring out your best. You don’t have to follow anyone’s style. Be your own style. Most important point: enjoy every single moment, because you know that will not be the only time you will speak on stage. You will only get better, you will only speak more. Just enjoy.

Imagination is a very powerful, yet underestimated tool. The best way to use it to always imagine what great things might happen AFTER you overcome your fear or struggle, and reach the other end. For example, if you are getting nervous before a big speech, just imagine how you want the audience to react to you, all the positive things. And let that calm you down, and act as a motivation!

As a trauma therapist, I learned that the fear of public humiliation is often used by manipulative people because it is one of the easiest ways to control others. It can even be more fear inducing than death because we have to live with the shame and humiliation afterwards. This fear is wired into our nervous system to protect us and help us survive within groups. Throughout history, being excluded from our family or group made us vulnerable, so we learned to fear it to survive. Understanding that your fear is completely valid given the way we are built can help remove self-blame and encourage us to push past this old survival technique.

???Find a quiet place where can relax and focus. Close eyes and take a few deep breaths to calm mind and body ???Visualize giving a successful presentation. Imagine standing confidently in front of audience, speaking clearly and engagingly ???Picture audience responding positively to your message. Imagine them nodding their heads, smiling, and asking thoughtful questions ???Visualize yourself handling any challenges or obstacles that may arise during your presentation. Imagine yourself staying calm and composed, and finding effective solutions to any problems that come up Repeat this visualization exercise regularly, ideally every day leading up to your presentation. The more practice, the more confident and prepared you will feel.

1) Close your eyes and picture giving your presentation. Imagine yourself gesturing. 2) Write out positive statements affirming your skills and the desired audience response. Phrase the statements realistically and as if you have already given the presentation. 3) Take deep breaths.

To overcome the jitters of public speaking, make it a habit to take on speaking opportunities regularly, no matter how small the role. Whether it's presenting a quick update in a meeting, giving a brief introduction, or participating in a casual discussion, each opportunity helps build your confidence. The more you speak in front of others, the more comfortable you'll become, and these smaller experiences will gradually ease your anxiety for larger speaking engagements. Push yourself out of your comfort zone!

Overcoming fear is about gaining control. Public speaking anxiety often stems from the feeling everyone will judge and criticize us for our performance. But remember - you cannot control how anyone thinks. What you can control is your breath. Breathing slowly and purposefully helps re-center your mindset. It reminds you that you have control about how you act and what you say right now in the present moment - that you’re going to do the best job you can and everything else is not your concern.

When facing anger or hostility during public speaking, it's important to remain calm and composed. Breathe deeply. The first thing to do in the face of anger is: nothing. Don’t take the bait when someone turns hostile. Breathe in, hold your breath for a moment, then slowly exhale. Keep your eyes level and focused on your audience. Then, repeat the breathing exercise. If it feels like your heart is racing or your emotions are rising, count to 10. Your calm will do wonders to relieve the tension. Remember, taking deep breaths can help you stay calm and composed during public speaking, even in the face of hostility. Acknowledging your audience's concerns and frustrations can also help to defuse tense situations.

A simple yet powerful technique to calm your nerves before a speech is deep breathing. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose, filling your lungs and belly. Exhale slowly through your mouth. This technique can help lower your heart rate, reduce stress, and improve focus. By practicing deep breathing, you'll feel more relaxed and confident when you speak.

There are tons of great online resources on successful breathing techniques. When on stage, try and pay attention to your breathing, to what you are saying, and to pause every once in a while. There is nothing more powerful than a well-timed pause in a speech to allow yourself to reset and for the audience to look forward to what is coming after the pause.

Como decía Churchill, “de las cosas que menos me gustan, hablar en público es la que más disfruto”. Sin duda todo se puede entrenar y controlar los nervios a la hora de enfrentarse a una audiencia, es una de esas cosas. Hace falta método y preparación, pero podrás llegar a disfrutar con ello. Te lo aseguro.

Smiling and having fun in public speaking can help project managers become more effective communicators. It's important to remember that public speaking is not just about delivering information, but also about engaging with audience and building relationship. A forced or fake smile can come across as insincere. Instead, try to relax and let natural smile shine through. Humor can help to break the ice and put audience at ease. However, it's important to use humor that is appropriate for the situation and audience. Sharing personal stories can help to build a connection with audience and make presentation more engaging. By building relationships with audience and engaging with them on a personal level can become a effective communicator.

Smiling is one of the most underestimated parts of public speaking. If you want to connect, the audience must feel you like them. And if you are not smiling, how will they ever feel you like them? Once you show you are enjoying yourself on stage, the audience will become part of that.

Use humour! Enjoy every part of it! Remember your aura as the speaker radiates throughout the room and the audience can sense it; you being positive and having fun on stage will keep everyone at ease and create a fun, lasting impression.

- Controversial hot take - Smiling is sometimes a bad idea. Sometimes it works well. But consider the following - - Layoff announcements. - Sobering geopolitical analyses. - Forecasts of recession. - Eulogies. As you can see, smiling during a speech depends greatly on the subject. My talks often revolve around the economy, geopolitics, financial markets, and politics. These are usually more serious subjects. If I were to smile all the time during my talks, people would think there is something seriously wrong with me. Yes, smiling makes a lot of sense in some talks. But sometimes it can be a bit of a downer. And it may even give your audience the impression that you are reveling in Schadenfreude. It all depends on your topic.

The key to conquering public speaking anxiety lies in self-reflection and continuous improvement. After your presentation, take time to analyze your performance. Celebrate your successes and identify areas for growth. Seek feedback from others to gain valuable insights. By learning from your experiences, you'll gradually build confidence and become a more effective communicator.

It is hard to watch, but filming yourself speaking in addition to having someone specifically positioned to provide feedback will allow you to observe and notice habits or nuances in your presentation. It can also provide examples from the feedback and apply for next time.

Practice may not make perfect, but it does make things easier. The fist time you do anything new is terrifying, but the it must happen if you want to get the the comfort of you 100th time. Take every experience in stride and enjoy the process of learning.

Embracing the sound of one's own voice is crucial for effective speech delivery. Many individuals harbour a dislike for their voice, hindering speech preparation. To overcome this, regular practice is key. It's vital for speakers to familiarise themselves with their voice and cultivate comfort. Integrate "self-listening" into daily routines—opt for voicenotes on platforms like WhatsApp. Despite generational differences in voicenote usage, research highlights their simplicity and efficacy. Record, replay, and share voicenotes with trusted contacts for constructive feedback. This practice not only builds confidence but is also incredibly convenient for the on-the-go individual who needs to find time to practice ahead of their speech!

One of the most important points about public speaking nerves is to have your structure in mind. Lots of people get nervous by the fear of forgetting something, or not knowing their text. When I have my structure, I can always find other ways of saying it and am not stressed by possibly forget important points

Nervousness and excitement are similar. As a professional speaker, I remind myself: - I’m excited to share this message - I’m prepared for this message - the audience wants me to succeed - the only mistake is not sharing Don’t suffer in advance from mistakes you haven’t made yet.

Never , Never let anyone tell you - you are not good enough to do public speaking. Never let people discourage you ! I was told once - you are not the stage going type ... you don't have the physical outlook or the face for it. I didn't let all those noises disturb me ! I went on to take each step and owned it ! You must do it for you and own up to it !

What I always do before making a speech is visualisation - visualise yourself walking to the stage, being greeted, standing and making your very first address to the crowd. That helps releasing the tension of the very first seconds and minutes which can be paralysing if you are not used to speeches. Then yes, always know by heart your slides/content - know by heart the flow (what comes on slide 1 and then slide 2 and then slide 3…). So you will not have to wonder what’s next and to look to your notes during the presentation.