(Adapted from Toastmasters International)

1. Know your material
If you’re not familiar with your material or are uncomfortable with it, your nervousness will increase. Practice your material and revise it if necessary. 2. Relax

Ease tension by doing exercises. (breathe – tense muscles & relax etc)
3. Know the room
Be familiar with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
4. Know the audience

Greet some of the audience as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group of strangers.
5. Visualise yourself giving your speech
Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear, and assured. When you visualise yourself as successful, you will be successful.
6. Realise that people want you to succeed

Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative, and entertaining. They don’t want you to fail
7. Don’t apologise
If you mention your nervousness or apologise for any problems you think you have with your speech, you may be calling the audience’s attention to something they hadn’t noticed. Keep silent.

8. Concentrate on the message - not the medium
Focus your attention away from your own anxieties, and outwardly toward your message and your audience. Your nervousness will dissipate.
9. Turn nervousness into positive energy
Gather your nervous energy and transform it into vitality and enthusiasm. Get into the “fizzy spot”.

10. Gain experience
Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters or speakers club can provide the experience you need.