How to calm your nerves when public speaking

by Jaimie Abbott

We all get nervous before speaking in public for various reasons. One of the reasons is that we want to make a good impression on the audience, and sometimes the anxiety increases if it’s a business presentation where we have to sell a product or service or convince our audience to take a certain action.

Here are some of my tips to calm your nerves when public speaking:

1. Get organised.

Organising all your thoughts and materials helps you feel much more relaxed and calmer. This will help you reduce anxiety by feeling prepared because you know the contents so well and what you are going to talk about.

2. Practice.

Nothing replaces practice and preparation of your speech. Write a script with the key points and try not to read it literally, but use it for reference only. Think about possible questions from the audience. You can practice in front of the mirror. You can also record yourself on video or practice your speech in front of your friends so that they can comment on what aspects you can improve.

3. Relax the fear of rejection a bit.

It’s natural to be afraid that your audience will not like you. But you have to be realistic. Not everyone will like you, and the presentation is not going to be perfect.

Accept that you will do your best and that the world won’t end if you do not get cheered at the end of the talk. Don’t pay too much attention to the audience’s reactions, and trust yourself. Don’t make assumptions about what the audience thinks of you. Better to focus on effectively communicating your ideas.

4. Rhythm is important.

A useful trick to calm your nerves is to force yourself to speak slower than normal. When we are nervous, we speed up our speech a lot, and it’s then difficult for the audience to understand you, and we can also make the audience nervous.

Slow down your speech. This way, you will gain security, you will feel more comfortable, and the audience will understand you much better.

5. Breathing is important.

Try to breathe with your diaphragm which will help to calm your nerves more easily. You can also take three deep breaths before going on stage to come out relaxed and connected to your body.

6. Get a public speaking coach.

Find a public speaking coach or mentor to refine your techniques and learn the best tools to calm your nerves and improve your communication skills.

A little bit of nervous energy before you step on stage is fine. In many situations it helps you to be alert and could also improve your performance.

7. Release tension by exercising.

Exercising lightly before a presentation improves circulation and oxygenates your brain. You can go for a walk before a speech or do some stretch exercises.

8. Minimalism in your presentation.

Don’t overload your PowerPoint presentations with too many words on each slide, this can overwhelm your audience and your brain. The simpler the presentation, the easier it will be for your audience and YOU to remember. Take the opportunity to just put down the key points to help jog your memory.

9. Take care of the room temperature.

If you are cold or hot, it is much easier to get nervous or break a sweat. Take care of the temperature of the room so that you and your audience are comfortable. It may seem insignificant, but speaking in public in the cold or the heat can be a disaster for your concentration and your nerves.

10. Choose a topic that interests you.

Nothing beats discussing a topic about which you are passionate and which is in line with your ideals. This will help you to relax maybe even forget that you are giving a presentation. Instead, it might feel like a discussion between you and your friends.

11. Meditate 5 minutes a day.

Many studies have discussed the benefits of meditation for concentration and the release of stress and anxiety. You don’t need more than 5 or 10 minutes a day. Find a quiet and relaxing place and focus on listening to your body and breathing.

12. Get out there and speak in front of everyone.

Practice is your best friend. The more times you put yourself in front of an audience, the better you will do it.