For example, when you think, “I am going to make a fool out of myself in front of my friends,” try thinking something more positive such as, “I am going to be so prepared that I will sound smart enough to impress all of my friends. " Remember, fear of public speaking is very common. You are not alone in your fear, and there will be plenty of resources to help you figure things out.
If the person is someone you can easily talk to or trust, ask them to be your practice audience. If your campus has a speech and debate club or organization, you can ask to come observe one of their meetings, and talk to a couple members about how they cope.
If you know that you tend to talk fast, for example, use your daily challenge as an opportunity to practice speaking slower and enunciating. If you know you are quiet when you speak, practice speaking louder.
This may feel silly at first, but the more you visualize your own success, the easier it will become to get rid of negative thoughts.
You don’t need to have your speech memorized weeks before the due date. Simply start thinking about your timeline. Set aside a little time every day to work on your presentation. Depending upon the type of speech, you may not need to memorize it at all, or you may be allowed to use note cards to help you keep your place. Try to have a subject and a general outline of what points you want to cover developed a day or two after you get the assignment. Then, take 20 or 30 minutes each day to do a little research and write out part of your speech.
If you are talking about historical events, for example, have an outline where the headings give the name and date of each event. Then, have one point under that with the major players, and one point briefly summarizing what happened. Don’t read directly from the outline. Just use it as a guideline to help you remember key points and keep your structure. It’s there to help you if you get lost, but it shouldn’t be a script.
Practice at least 2-3 times each day. The better you know what you want to say, the more comfortable you will feel the day you have to say it. When you practice for others, use their feedback as a learning opportunity. Remember that they are not trying to make you feel bad. They are just helping you find places where you can improve your facts or presentation.
This is especially important if you are speaking in a room other than your classroom. Unfamiliar environments can make nerves worse. You can lessen this by becoming familiar with the environment before you have to speak there. Even if you don’t think looking at the room will help, do it anyway. It is easier to relax in a place that is at least a little familiar.
Accept that you will make some mistakes. Embracing the fact that everyone makes small, recoverable mistakes when they speak will help you feel less nervous and keep you from making larger, more critical mistakes. Most minor mistakes won’t even be noticed. [10] X Research source If you make a minor mistake like mispronouncing a word or skipping a small part, don’t stop your presentation or start backtracking. This can interrupt your flow and make you even more nervous. Correct the mistake if you notice it right away. Otherwise, just move on.
This helps some people because when they are playing a character, it is easier to take risks knowing that if you mess up, it’s the character that will get the blame, not you. Being an actor is a “fake it until you make it” approach. Play someone who is collected and confident. Given enough time, your confidence will stop being fake.
You can even make a list. Try writing down two positives of your presentation for every negative. This way you can focus on areas where you need to improve without feeling like the whole speech failed.
