Work on your breathing by taking deep breaths using your diaphragm instead of your chest. Slow, long breaths will help relax you before giving a speech. Stop for a minute and take a deep breath whenever you start to feel nervous before and during your speech.
Practice your speech by looking at yourself in the mirror, making eye contact and watching your expressions and hand movements. You can also practice in front of friends, parents, pets or kids, because the more you practice, the more comfortable you will be with your speech and speaking in front of people. Speak into a recorder and see how your speech sounds. If you know it will sound good, you may not be as nervous giving the speech in front of a crowd.
Practice making eye contact with everyone you meet, talk to and come across during the time leading up to your speech. This will help you become comfortable with looking in people's eyes, which may help with your nerves during your speech. A smile on your face and a good posture will help boost your confidence when giving a speech. An increase in confidence will help reduce the level of nervousness during your speech.
You do not have to visualize your audience sitting there in their underwear, however, visualizing something positive may help keep your nerves calm. Keep a positive image in your mind, such as the group being interested in your speech or smiling back at you. You can also visualize the reward you will give yourself when the speech is done, such as a day at the spa or a nice dinner out.