Top 10 ways to reduce public speaking anxiety

Do you know what is one of the most scariest things to do? The top thing that people fear the most is public speaking. The sweaty palms, the dry throat, getting the shakes.....are all common characteristics of people so nervous to speak in front of others that it freezes them! But, there are many ways to overcome these anxieties to deliver a killer presentation.

You see, I speak from experience. I remember being at university having to give a group talk and trying to think of any way to get out of it...I was just too nervous! I ended up doing the presentation but I was so nervous I couldn't get my words out...and the teacher noticed. BUT let me tell you what turned me, the nerve wrecked presenter into someone who can't wait to talk in front of others and who doe so regularly as a Toastmaster.

10. Breathing exercises

My stress manifested itself into a shaky voice as my nerves took over my breathing. If this is your problem try standing up straight putting your arms straight down your body, closing your eyes and taking 10 deep breaths in and slowly letting the air out. Whilst doing this try to relax all of your body. Make sure you find a quiet place to do your breathing exercises and do them regularly. The web is full of breathing exercises to reduce stress so research some and pick those that give you the best results.

9. Diet

Can food affect your stress? Of course and there are a variety of foods that can reduce anxiety. Some studies have found oranges, sweet potatoes, nuts, spinach and turkey as stress reducers. The important thing is to eat small portions regularly to keep your blood sugar stable.

8. Exercise

Of course exercise is important anyway but it is also a great stress reducer. Exercise releases natural endorphins which make you feel great. The other great thing about exercise is that helps you breathe better so if you're like me and your breathing gets the better of you before a presentation exercise can help reduce this stress.

7. Preparation

Look some people are great are doing impromptu speaking. I'm very jealous of those people because I just can't do it. I find that if I thoroughly practice my public speaking by using effective techniques then I have reduced room for error.

6. Confidence

Well this goes without saying really but I get a lot of confidence before I speak through some self talk. What do I say to myself before I speak? Here's some I use: "Here is an opportunity to blow these people away with how good you can present." "Show them how you're such a good speaker." "Don't let this opportunity get the better of you."

5. Imagery

This is related to confidence and is a well known technique used by elite sportspeople. Imagine getting up in front of a group of people and having them hang off every word you say. Imagine yourself commanding the stage, using gestures to reinforce points, being dramatic when you need to be. Imagine your audience giving you a rousing ovation when you finish. Just imagine how good you can be.

4. Go to the greats

Watch how great speakers do their thing. Use Youtube to study great orators such as Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan, and dare I say it Adolf Hitler (evil man but had great speaking skills). Study where they reinforced points and how they did it. Bring these into your practice and grow your confidence.

3. Join Toastmasters

I've been a member of Toastmasters for a while now and it has provided a comfortable, supportive environment to develop my public speaking skills. Remember most people in Toastmasters probably joined to reduce their stress when talking in front of others. Being surrounded by like-minded people and seeing how far many have come gives me a tremendous amount of inspiration that "I can do it too!".

2. Be yourself

Don't overcomplicate public speaking by trying to be someone you're not. The best speakers are proud to show an audience who they really are and if you're trying to impress then usually your audience will see you through this. Just be yourself, try to stick to 2-3 main points in a talk and you will find the experience a lot less stressful as a result.

2. Embrace stress

What?! Yes, you heard, embrace stress. You see we all need a certain amount of stress to perform, it's only when stress levels get too much that it effects our performance in a negative way. So feel the nerves and know that this is natural and good for a public speaker. Channel your nerves in the right direction, use it to pump you up to use imagery I spoke about above, or self talk that I also mentioned. But don't be afraid of it. I have never heard of an elite athlete, singer, actor or speaker who didn't have some nerves when they were in front of others.

1. Practice, practice, practice

There is no short cut and no substitute for practice. Study all the external parts of your presentation first. By this I mean the room you're presenting in, what time you're presenting, the age and knowledge of your audience. Once you've done this then practice your speech. In another one of my hubs I show the best ways to practice to ensure that by the time your presentation comes along you have left nothing to chance.

Want to know the secrets of great public speakers?