Public speaking is usually ranked as one of the top fears of people all over the world! While there are the rare few who naturally embrace it, most people face great anxiety when it comes to giving presentations and speeches.

If you are trying to get past your fear of public speaking, first realize that it can happen! After all, most of the speakers you hear at work or in other situations were once scared, too.

The best thing to do is to come up with a strategy to overcome your fear. The sooner you make up your mind that you can get more comfortable with public speaking, the easier it will be to take necessary actions.

Looking for some suggested tactics? Below are tips on how to overcome the fear of public speaking.

* Be as prepared as you can be.

For most people, the fear of public speaking will subside once they get going. So one of the smartest things you can do to deal with your nerves is to be really prepared.

If you are speaking on a topic, you need to really know your stuff! That way, you will be able to adjust if you jump topic slightly. And you will be calmer about any questions you may get from the audience members.

* Practice, practice and practice some more

It is crucial that you practice your delivery. Some people give their presentations in front of a mirror. That way, they can see some behaviors they may need to modify, such as stopping themselves from talking with their hands.

You can practice your presentation while commuting to work. Or you can deliver your speech in the shower! The more you deliver your speech ahead of time, the better you will feel when the actual delivery day arrives.

If your speech has a time limit, be sure to practice with a stopwatch. If you need to cut out some of the content or add more, you can make any needed modifications.

* Seek candid feedback

Successful speech givers usually have been mentored along the way! In other words, most of them are not developed overnight!

It is really wise to seek candid feedback from your boss, professor or spouse. Go to someone who is qualified to give critical comments and who is willing to do so.

You will be far less nervous if someone has helped you tweak and fine tune your presentation. You may not realize, for example, that you have a bad habit of inserting the words "you know" throughout your speech.

While this habit may be a natural result of nerves, you will be more likely to stop if it is drawn to your attention. And my improving your presentation, you will feel far more confident about it. Confidence, fortunately, lessens fear.

* Take a few deep breaths.

While it may sound cliched, there is a reason you often hear to take deep breaths when you step to the lectern. Deep breathing will relax your nervous system prior to your starting to speak. Take two or three. It works!

* Picture your audience members in their underwear.

While this tactic may sound preposterous, many public speakers have attested to its effectiveness through the years! It supposedly calms the nerves to picture your audience members in their underwear. Somehow this mental trick may make the faces out there seem less intimidating.

* Deliver presentations and speeches frequently.

Finally one of the best ways to overcome fear of public speaking is to engage in this activity often. The more you force yourself out of your comfort zone and deliver presentations, the more comfortable you will get with this activity. It really does get easier over time.

Learn more about this author, Ann E. Smith.
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