How can you avoid sounding nervous or shaky when speaking at a conference?

It’s always better to prepare. I know a lot of people who don’t prepare because they’re scared. I love challenging my clients to think like this: if you don’t practice, you’re begging for failure. If you’re going to do it, do it right and practice. I hope this helps.

From my experience as a professional speaker I use this way to avoid being nervous. I always tell myself before the keynote that I am the one in the room who knows the most about the subject I am giving my presentation on. That way you are less nervous about what you're saying and are you less nervous for questions from the audience.

Yes, this! Whenever I would try to "overcome" my nerves before a speech I would end up getting more nervous, my voice would get shakier and then I'd be so distracted by my shaky voice that I would rush. Embracing the fact that you're human and pretty much every human gets nervous before speaking and that you're nervous because you care about doing a good job helps. I also own up to my nerves to the audience. I tell them something along the lines of "Everytime I'm in front of a new audience I get a little nervous, who can relate?" Then when most of the hands shoot up I've not only normalized my own nerves but have made their nerves ok too.

Yes, this! Whenever I would try to "overcome" my nerves before a speech I would end up getting more nervous, my voice would get shakier and then I'd be so distracted by my shaky voice that I would rush. Embracing the fact that you're human and pretty much every human gets nervous before speaking and that you're nervous because you care about doing a good job helps. I also own up to my nerves to the audience. I tell them something along the lines of "Everytime I'm in front of a new audience I get a little nervous, who can relate?" Then when most of the hands shoot up I've not only normalized my own nerves but have made their nerves ok too.

No es mi intención sonar pretensioso ni mucho menos sin embargo al día de hoy he impartido más de 200 conferencias en toda LATAM y aún me sigo poniendo nervioso, es imposible no emocionarse ante la multitud y ante la increíble energía que se mueve por los auditorios. A mí, lo que me ha ayudado, es decirle y repetirle a mi cerebro que estoy emocionado, así, lo confundo y salgo al escenario con pasión y energía en lugar de nerviosismo.