According to the Mayo Clinic, the fear of public speaking is very common. You may experience symptoms ranging from nervousness to being completely paralyzed by fear when faced with speaking in public. If you want to be more confident when giving speeches or talking in front of groups of people, consider joining Toastmasters International, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to teaching public speaking skills, and try a few tips to get you comfortable in front of a crowd.
Breathe
Breathing is perhaps the most important factor to keep in mind when speaking in public. Many times, people are not aware of the rate of their own speech. You may be speaking much more quickly than you think. This can make it difficult for your audience to follow what you are saying. Being aware of your breath will not only help you to control your speaking rate, but it will also help you to relax. Concentrate on taking slow, deep breaths before you begin to speak. Relax, pause, count to three and then greet your audience when you begin speaking.
Be Prepared
Knowing your material inside and out will help you to feel more confident. You won't have to worry about losing your place or forgetting your lines if you've rehearsed your speech several times. Toastmasters.org suggests that you know more about your topic than you put into your speech, so you can fall back on your own knowledge in case you do get lost. Practice your speech out loud in front of a mirror. Try to record yourself with a video camera, and be aware of your gestures, the rate of your speech and the use of filler words such as "um" or "you know." Ask friends and family members to be your audience, and ask for feedback. If possible, practice in the location where you'll be giving the speech.
Focus on the Audience
The audience wants to hear what you have to say, and they want you to be interesting and engaging. They're not rooting for you to mess up or fail. According to Toastmasters.org, the audience most likely won't notice if you're nervous. Focusing on your message and the ideas you're trying to get across will help you to stay focused and may help to relieve some of your anxiety.
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