Prepare and Practice

First of all, pick a topic that means something to you. You will have more enthusiasm about your speech if you know your subject matter well. If you are out on a limb speaking about a topic you know nothing about, you will most likely be more anxious than if you feel well-informed and sincerely concerned about your subject matter. Enthusiasm is contagious; if you think your material is interesting and meaningful, your audience will, too. ¹⁸

Knowing that you are adequately prepared and have practiced your speech beforehand will increase your confidence dramatically. Carefully plan your presentation and create note cards if necessary. Cheryl Hamilton recommends always rehearsing your presentation out loud:

Mentally thinking through your speech is not the same as practicing aloud. The environment you practice in should be as close as possible to the actual speaking environment. For example, if you will be standing during your presentation, stand while practicing; if you will be using visual aids, practice using them. As you rehearse, time yourself to see if you need to shorten or lengthen the presentation. Finally, anticipate possible audience questions and prepare answers for them. ¹⁹

George L. Grice and John F. Skinner, in their book Mastering Public Speaking, recommend that you practice your speech several times from start to finish, without stopping:

Too often when students mess up in practice, they stop and begin again. This is not a luxury you have when you address an audience, so as you practice, practice recovering from mistakes. Knowing that you can make it through your speech despite blunders in practice should make you more confident. ²⁰

Don’t Dwell on Past “Failures”

We improve our speaking skills through experience. Just because you may have felt embarrassed about a poor speaking performance in the past does not mean you should be afraid of future opportunities to speak. “Remember this,” Pearson advises, “All good speakers started out as not-so-good speakers. They improved because they resolved to do better the next time.” ²¹

Be Well-Rested and Avoid Hassles

A good night’s sleep can make a big difference before any event that requires you to think clearly: a final exam, a job interview, or a speech in public. Clear your calendar of any stressful events on the day of your speech that might interfere with your ability to speak confidently and sincerely.

Avoid Mood-Altering Substances

Some people make the mistake of drinking a caffeinated soda or popping a pill before their speech, thinking these things will pep them up and improve their performance. The opposite is true. Mood-altering substances are not only an emotional crutch that you don’t need, they can also backfire and amplify your nervousness or make you feel sluggish.

Pearson also suggests eating lightly or not at all one or two hours before speaking. “A full stomach can lower your energy level and concentration because your body is busy digesting food. Any nervousness can actually make digestion difficult. You don’t want a belch or gurgling stomach to interrupt your speech.” ²²

Marjorie Brody, president of Brody Communications, offers the following tips to help prevent one common symptom of stage fright: dry mouth. Avoid dairy products, soda, coffee, and alcohol before a presentation. Instead, drink water that is room temperature. You might want to try using petroleum jelly on your teeth to keep them from sticking to your lips. To promote salivation, Brody suggests gently biting the tip of your tongue. ²³