Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety: Practical Tips for Calming Nerves
- Fred Miller
- Jun 7
- 2 min read
Most people get nervous before speaking.
Some get butterflies.
Some get sweaty palms.
Some feel their heart pounding.
That’s normal.
In fact, if you care about doing a good job, a little nervousness is probably a good thing.
The Goal isn’t to eliminate nervousness. The Goal is to manage it.
Here are tips for doing that. Prepare. Preparation builds confidence.
Know:
Your opening.
Your closing.
Your key points.
If you know how you’re going to start and how you’re going to finish, you’ll feel much more confident.
Practice. Not just silently.
Standing up.
Out loud.
With gestures.
With energy.
I often recommend practicing:
While driving.
While walking.
In the shower.
In front of a mirror.
In front of a camera!
My BEST TIP for practicing is HERE.
The more you practice, the less you have to think.
The less you have to think, the less nervous you’ll be.
Arrive early. Get comfortable with:
The room.
The microphone.
The lighting.
The technology.
Familiarity reduces anxiety.
Focus on the audience. Many speakers focus on:
Themselves.
Their nervousness.
Their fear of making mistakes.
Instead, focus on:
Helping.
Teaching.
Serving.
When you make it about the audience, it becomes less about you.
Take a breath. Before you begin:
P-A-U-S-E
Smile.
Breathe.
The audience doesn’t know what’s going on inside your head.
They only know what they see.
And remember…
The audience wants you to succeed.
They’re not rooting against you.
They’re rooting for you.
They are glad you are speaking and not them!
Public speaking isn’t about perfection.
It’s about connection.
Follow these practical tips and you’ll discover that speaking in front of a group can become absolutely, positively — NO SWEAT! 😎 ——————————————————————————————————————————————————
About the Author
Fred E. Miller is a speaker, an international coach, and the author of the books, “NO SWEAT Public Speaking!” and “NO SWEAT Elevator Speech!”
Businesses, Individuals, and Organizations hire him because they want to improve their Networking, Public Speaking, andPresentation Skills.
They do this because they know:"Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities."
They also know:We perceive really great speakers to be Experts. We like to work with Experts.
He shows them how to: Develop, Practice, and Deliver Fantastic Presentations! with – NO SWEAT!
Services:
Keynote Speaker
Workshop Facilitator
Breakout Sessions
Personal and Group Public Speaking and Presentation Coaching
Crafting Your Elevator Speech, Floor by Floor with – NO SWEAT!
Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities.
We are All Self-Employed!
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions about this post or other posts please contact me: Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com.