Admit to yourself that you are anxious. Understand that public speaking is a common fear and that you are not alone. Don't expect your nerves to be eliminated all together. Instead, set realistic goals that can ease anxiety such as focusing on following your presentation model and speaking clearly.
Organize your presentation. Determine the message of your speech and outline it clearly in your speech. Back up your focus with supporting elements. Use transitional phrases to connect one idea to the next.
Use presentation visual aides such as note cards, a poster board or PowerPoint to help you organize your thoughts so your speech comes out clear and succinct. Organization helps build confidence and will keep your mind focused on the presentation.
Practice your speech in front of friends to get honest, constructive feedback on how you can make your presentation better. Practice alone, in a mirror, to gain confidence in how you look and feel as you say your speech. Record your practice session with a tape recorder. Play the speech back to study how you sound and to determine if you need to work on your phrasing or improve content material.
Avoid imaginary scenarios that your audience will point, laugh and mock you. Instead, focus on the message of your speech, not whether someone will like or dislike it.
Avoid language such as "I will mess up" or "My audience will dislike my presentation." Focus on what your are passionate about in your speech. Choose topics that are of interest to you. Bring personal accounts into your speech whenever tor possible, so you can make a connection to your audience.
Stretch to relieve tension, stress and anxiety. Stretch your arm and leg muscles 10 to 20 minutes before making your speech. Loosen facial muscles by scrunching up your entire face for 20 seconds and then releasing. Repeat 10 to 15 times. Make strong fists. Hold and release.
Pace yourself while speaking and remember to breathe, focusing on articulating your speech, and not quickening your speech. Speak from your diaphragm to improve your vocalization. Before your presentation, relax your nerves by doing breathing exercises. Breathe from the diaphragm. Take counts of three in and counts of three out of the belly.