Believe it or not, most people would rather be buried alive than have to give a speech or deliver a presentation and mastering public speaking is not at the top of most people’s to do list. That’s all very well but what about the time when it is important for your career or because you don’t want to let a friend or family member down? Well there is something that you need to know and a few tips that may well make the difference.

Firstly, you really are not alone if you suffer from fear or nervousness about public speaking. Trust me when I tell you that I have seen even the most successful, otherwise apparently confident, self assured and seemingly capable individuals reduced to trembling nervousness and self-consciousness when faced with giving a speech or presentation out of their own environment. It is a natural reaction for most people and it puts you in a club of roughly 99% of the population of the planet Earth.

Here are a few tips that will help you to overcome some of that nervousness and with practise to master public speaking forever.

1. Prepare what you are going to say or present in advance and well. Preparation really does help to prevent painfully poor performance and by feeling more comfortable with what you have to say you will quite naturally begin to feel more comfortable about actually saying it. Never, ever, ever try to wing it, always prepare.

2. Stay focused. The mind always goes in the direction of its most dominant thought so by concentrating upon your content and intent your mind will in part be distracted from concentrating instead upon your nervousness.

3. Arrive early so that you can get a feel for the venue and attune yourself with the environment and the location your audience. Knowing what to expect often takes away the fear of the unknown and take a few minutes to visualise yourself speaking in that space and doing so well and successfully. Create for yourself a mindset of success and your mind will assume it to be so.

4. Know your audience by finding out as much as you can about them, their reason for being there and their core interest and values. The more you know about them the more you can adjust and plan your delivery around them and give them more of what they want which will make you a great success.

5. Get enthusiastic and create some energy around both yourself and your speech or presentation. There is nothing as contiguous as enthusiasm, so speak with passion and the audience will know it and love it.

6. Find ways of engaging your audience into becoming involved or associating themselves with your speech or presentation. If you are giving a wedding speech then think of something that you can do to involve a few of the other guests to add some extra interest or humour to the occasion. You can also involve them by looking directly at them and making them feel a part of your presentation. When you are having fun so will your audience.

There are sixteen keys to mastering public speaking so If you want to learn more about them and how to give great speeches visit my website