How to overcome fear of an oral presentation?

Question

I have never been able to do a speech in public without messing it up. Give me some advice to control my nervousness to express myself.

Answer 1

Try to talk and give the presentation with the same level of interest and enthusiasm as you would, if you were talking to a friend about a subject that you enjoy, ie a sport, a book you read, something that interests you.

Reading up and knowing the information is the best way that you can prepare for the presentation. Do it infront of a member of family or a friend, so that they can give you ideas on how they saw it - a useful exercise. Trivial it may sound, but its very good practice, also it will start to become second nature, as you memorise your lines, by trying it again and again - almost as an actor or actress would.

If your brave, even perform a mock presentation infront of a video camera at home, so you can watch it back, almost like looking in the mirror, and you WILL pickup on how it went, and where you did well or could change your approach etc.

Finally just picture all these people that sit (or stand) before you, in only their underwear !! ...that'll soon remove any nervousness, and may help to reduce the anxiety associated with the task..... :)

Here's wiishing you the best of luck and success with the presentation - once it's over you'll want to be up there doing it again! ....the ordeal wont have seemed so "bad" after all. ;)

Answer 2

That's not unusual, oral presentation is the #1 fear of all. Get to know your presentation real well and just have your mind made up that you are going to do a good job. As a psychological theory states, it is natural to go quicker in front of a crowd. If you get to know your speech well enough you should be able to do and overcome the fear. And if you feel nervous don't think that everyone else thinks you are nervous because chances are they won't even notice it.

Answer 3

The best advice I can give is to really know your presentation. Know it so well that you do not have to think about it as you deliver it, this will boost your confidence. Pick 3 or 4 people in the audience that do not intimidate you, and deliver your presentation "to them" making eye contact with them.
Also, and this might sound corny, but right before the speech do some deep breathing and "get into character" play the "part" of a public speaker, try and step outside of YOU.
Good Luck!

Answer 4

This is a rather common problem for me i guess, because i'd to perform in public for a few times. And i've had several headaches over the following problems when i was going on stage
1) if i would trip over a wire and embarrass myself
2) if i say something dumb and be ridiculed
3) if i screw up :)

My friend told me that the good old method to help yourself when you're faced with such problems is to
1) imagine that the audience are clad in their undergarments.

I recommend doing the following before going on stage
1) take deep breaths and try to calm down
2) make a mental image of yourself going up on stage, doing the best performance and receiving a standing ovation from the audience in your mind, repeat this and tell yourself, 'i can do this'
3) tell yourself that the people watching you are just human themselves, what's there to be afraid of?
4) TRUST YOURSELF. you are the one making the speech, in order to do that, you MUST have confidence
5) make sure you have done the utmost you can for your presentation. in another words, make sure it is your best.

wish you would succeed in your presentation, best of luck!

Answer 5

practice, practice, practice! When I had to do my first one at work, (in front of 50 people), I really went over the info until I knew it forwards and backwards. I had my notes nearby but didn't use them, (it was just a confidence booster). Arrange your presentation in a logical order and just keep going over and over it until you have it down. Practice in front of your family, pets, whatever....just be comfortable with the material and project your voice with confidence. Smile and be personable when you present. Once you get through that first one.....the next one will be much easier!

Answer 6

Think of everyone in their funniest kind of clothing, lol just kidding that was from a movie. Practice in front of a mirror, the nervousness goes away after the first time you present. I had the same thing, theres nothing wrong that can happen always remmeber that

Answer 7

Hey the first step is prepare well.That would make u more confident.
Try at home before ur friends as many times as u can.
Then before u start breathe well,relax.....
Dont keep any paper with u coz if u start shivering it may be noticed.
Then have this in ur mind-u r the only person who knows about the topic u r gonna present.All the audience are fools!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thats it!!!!!!!!!!