Anxiety about public speaking can seem crippling, but with the right steps, most people find it more readily manageable than expected. In fact, professional public speaking coach Lenny Laskowski says proper preparation is the single most important part of mastering this anxiety. He says feeling ready well before the public speaking event can quell up to two-thirds of your pre-speech stress. Other tips for taming anxiety involve using breathing exercises and building up a positive attitude.
Step 1
Tailor your speech to cover subject matter you are interested in and knowledgeable about. You will be more confident in your ability to deliver engaging, accurate material and improvise and field questions if necessary. In addition, including information you know makes it easier to focus on your message rather than dwell on the act of giving a speech, according to Toastmasters International.
Step 2
Rehearse your speech repeatedly. Familiarity with your material is essential to keeping anxiety under control. Also, use rehearsal to reassure yourself that the speech takes up the right amount of time. Practice with a timer, and pay attention to mastering an appropriate pace. Make audio or visual recordings of yourself during practice runs if possible, too. Review them to catch problems with your delivery so you'll be more confident about how you sound and look during the speech.
Step 3
Familiarize yourself with the equipment you'll use during the speech and with the room in which you'll be speaking. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, or UROP, reminds you to check that all equipment is working and operating on the correct settings. The program also advises knowing how to control settings and where to find everything you need. Also, plan out exactly where you'll stand and make sure you won't obstruct the audience's view of visual aids.
Step 4
Talk with audience members before the speech. You'll be more comfortable speaking to people you have some familiarity with, advises Toastmasters International. If you can incorporate something from one of these conversations into your speech, you'll feel a bit more at ease about your ability to relate to the audience, notes MIT's UROP.
Step 5
Remind yourself that people wish the best for you, recommends Laskowski, the speaking coach. This helps keep your attitude positive. The audience wants to be part of a successful speech. Also, remind yourself that most of the audience members have probably been in the same situation before during a public speaking event.
Step 6
Practice a deep-breathing exercise for relaxation in the few minutes leading up to your speech. National Jewish Health outlines a proper procedure for an instant relaxation technique: position yourself comfortably, either sitting, standing or lying down, and keep your back straight. Inhale deeply into the diaphragm, located directly beneath the ribs. Diaphragmatic breathing is more calming than superficial throat breathing, notes MIT's UROP.
Hold the breath for five seconds, then exhale slowly, allowing all the muscles in your body to relax. Repeat this process at least two or three times and more if needed. Think pleasant, positive thoughts while using this breathing exercise.
