Public Speaking - 3 Tips for Calming Your Nerves

Getting up and speaking in front of a large crowd of people can be extremely nerve-wracking.

Whether you’re doing a presentation at work or speaking as part of a local event, it’s not easy being watched by hundreds (or even a handful!) of people. You can end up fumbling your words or completely forgetting everything you’d planned to say.

If you’ve got a public speaking event coming up soon, here are some tips to give you the best chances of everything going well.

• Practice out loud beforehand - practice does make perfect. If you have practiced your lines a lot beforehand, you’re less likely to forget your speech and you’ll feel more confident.
• Visualize things going well - when you imagine things going perfectly, it will naturally calm your nerves. Visualization is an effective technique used by many professionals before a big event. Give it a go, and you will notice how your nerves immediately start to melt away!
• Remember that you don’t need to be perfect - nobody goes through life mistake-free. People in the crowd will understand if you accidentally slip up or stumble over your words.