How do you handle nervousness before a public speech?

We tend to think of feedback as external--something OTHERS share with us, but our own feedback is also useful. At least once a quarter, I record one of my live presentations, pop some popcorn, and watch myself. It's not always a pleasant experience, but oh, do I grow! Be sure to use a feedback form so you identify both your strengths and your opportunities for improvement.

One thing I've found helpful is to collaborate with event planners on giving and receiving feedback. For example, you can collaborate on specific questions or provide input on the overall event survey. Your partnership shows you're confident, mature, and in control. It also reminds you that you can handle any feedback that comes your way. You've got this!

As a longtime former sport coach I liken the harnessing of public speaking skills to becoming a great free throw shooter in basketball. I need a coach to teach me the fundamentals of the skill, I need a partner to rebound the ball, and I need feedback on how to adjust my shot when I miss!

Breathe.... Learn to breathe through your nose when feeling tense. This diaphragmatic breathing short circuits your fight-or-flight response, which is not helpful in this situation. And remember, in most cases, no one knows what you are going to say. This means that only you know if you mess upnor skip something...

Feedback from other people isn't as important as developing the ability to tell when you're doing it well, or not. Feedback from other people makes us MORE self-conscious when it comes to public speaking and I certainly wouldn't encourage lots of external feedback at the beginning of a client's journey.

I have been using the T-E-A approach: (1)Thank the person for giving you constructive feedback. (2)Engage the person in helping you make improvements. (3)Ask the person whether you may have the honor to invite the person to another occasion when you deliver an important speech that reflects your adoption of the person's advice. By using the above T-E-A approach, you have effectively turned a seemingly negative situation into a positive outcome: now, you have a mentor, who feels proud of helping you succeed!

Prepare how you'll deliver the first 30 seconds of your presentation so you feel more confident going into it as this is where the height of anxiety and nerves will bear down on you. Once you get past this initial stage, you'll enter into a flow that takes you through the rest.

These are some of the things that I have found helpful that decrease nervousness when speaking. 1. Accept that nervousness is a part of the process. 2. Choose a topic that you are passionate about. 3. Utilize a #storytelling framework to take the audience on a journey. 4. Meditate and journal the emotions and the results of your presentation. 5. Practice, rehearse, evaluate, and make the necessary changes to nail your presentation.

I recently experienced nervousness before a major public speaking event. In order to overcome my nervousness, I prayed and meditated on a successful speech. To help boost my confidence, I played music that would inspire me to be great. It's all in your mindset. A positive mindset will lead to a positive outcome.

Memorize your introduction, specifically the first minute or so. Studies show there is a spike in heart rate at the beginning of a speech that drops significantly after the first 30 seconds. Get through that and then switch to bullet points and a more conversational approach.

Don't overcome your nerves: befriend them! Your nerves can help bring an edge to your performance. Why? Nervousness reveals vulnerability and authenticity. Both are excellent qualities for developing rapport with your audience. Fear also feels a lot like excitement. Excitement is yet another attractive quality to put on stage! Self-awareness is key. I do breath and body work with clients. From there, we uncover a bespoke approach to managing anxiety. What helps one person may not help another. And further, the techniques that work for you will change throughout your lifetime! You'll want your butterflies to fly in formation! A solid mindfulness practice can help you gain the perspective you need to manage nerves.