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I'm so nervous during presentations and meetings, how can I improve my public speaking?

164 Answers
Last Updated: 02/16/2021 at 9:38am
I'm so nervous during presentations and meetings, how can I improve my public speaking?
1 Tip to Feel Better
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I am an enthusiastic life-long learner and also a professor of counseling. I have a passion for peoples stories and helping to guide and empower the human spirit.

Top Rated Answers
Rainseason
September 19th, 2015 10:37am
I think that you should try and talk in front of the miror.observe your movements and the way you talk.practice lots to improve.you could also ask a friend to listen to you.
lifeIsBeautiful15
December 26th, 2015 11:36am
Public speaking is an art. Like everything else, it also comes with practise. Some tips: 1. Gain enough knowledge on the topic you are presenting. 2. Prepare your presentation confidentally remembering the audience you are addressing 3. Rehearse it, a lot of times. 4. Stand in front of the mirror and practise 5. Your thoughts create your world. Create a picture of yourself standing in front of the crowd, delivering your speech like a boss and you feel satisfied. Replay this picture again and again until you don't get a thought of what;s gonna happen during your presentation. Believe it will be awesome. This improves confidence and lets down fear. 6. Enjoy what you are speaking. Try to reproduce the picture you framed on your head. You can do it!
positiveSummer20
December 24th, 2015 4:27pm
Build a chain of states into your presentation that makes sense, such as: intense curiosity, then strong fascination, and then burning desire. When speaking fast, hold your head still and do not gesture; when speaking medium-speed, bob your head and gesture a lot. Sometimes you can combine the why and the what by presenting facts, data, and statistics as the reasons why people should care about the rest of what you have to say / present.
SimplyAlex
November 8th, 2015 6:02pm
For me to remove the nervousness you feel during presentations is to have a glimpse of the environment ahead of your presentation. It is also advisable that you know the characteristics of your audience so you can easily build rapport with them. Of course, know your presentation very well. When you know it very well and have practiced it, you will be confident.
Anonymous
August 21st, 2015 10:40am
try speaking in front of mirror . read books loud. meet new people.Talk to them. go though some vdos.
Anonymous
September 27th, 2015 4:44am
Realize that whatever presentation you're in is not the end of the world. Also, there is a wonderful technique one can use: Make the "Hmmm" sound a few times with a high pitch. If you can't get away to a private place to do it, pretend like you're blowing your nose.
Anonymous
October 29th, 2015 5:28am
practice practice practice... better practice in front of a mirror and practice speaking loudly it brings a great change. be confident, be thorough.
Unlocker3674
January 8th, 2016 7:41am
Simply try to take the initiative to speak in public more often, and work on your worry of what others might think of you as well
insightfulHeart89
January 3rd, 2016 2:12pm
Start your presentation by asking simple questions. It can be how you doing today? How many of you are aware of this topic? What you are thinking to get out of this presentation ? Such questions will take your mind away form the nervousness and help to retain your focus.
JessInTechnicolour
September 12th, 2015 10:42pm
Feeling nervous before a presentation is the body's way of preparing you for the upcoming challenge. It helps you become acutely focused on your task and gives you the strength to stay up there and talking whereas you may have instead run away screaming. Embrace your nerves as your body's way of preparing you and it will feel much easier to deal with. Furthermore, the best way to improve your skills is to practice. Practice speaking about anything in front of strangers. Also, as for feedback. Find out what people thought you did what and what they thought you should improve. Please check out these TED Talks on the subject. I found them very helpful as I prepared for my own public speaking. http://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend?language=en https://www.ted.com/playlists/226/before_public_speaking
BrandonM219
January 1st, 2016 6:49pm
Public speaking can be very daunting. Improving your self-confidence can help a lot. Asking a group of your close and trusted peers to sit and listen to a mock presentation can be great practice!
FriendlyRyan21
December 5th, 2017 4:34pm
Imagine like no ones in the room and present with confidence. Surround yourself with positive people.
Anonymous
October 21st, 2015 9:25pm
Think if what you are spreaking of. Imerse yourself in this to lower the stress. Calmly going about it as if the subject is positive to.you.
LiterallyLeslie21
September 4th, 2015 4:10am
Wear something that makes you comfortable! Carry a good luck charm, practice with a friend, etc. Do whatever helps to make you more comfortable in the end.
PVS90
September 30th, 2015 4:52am
Always prepare, even if this means reciting in front of a mirror or close friends. You will feel more confident when the time comes
pufferfish
November 1st, 2015 9:43pm
Make sure you know your material really well and practice as much as you can, whether it's in front of a mirror, in front of your pets, or to your friends and family that feel comfortable around and who will give you honest feedback.
Manifestation
September 16th, 2015 8:26pm
Rehearsal and practice will lend themselves a long way. If you have a friend to practice your presentation this would be ideal.
NickManUtd92
September 24th, 2015 4:46pm
Start off talking to a mirror. Sounds weird, I know, but watch yourself as you do it. This well help you kind of see what other people will be seeing. And you're seeing yourself, so no big deal right? Then, ask your parents or siblings if you can present your project to them. If they're not available, see if you can get some friends together. This will help you prepare for presenting in front of a group. After all that, you should feel comfortable presenting in public.
Anonymous
September 23rd, 2015 6:45pm
Try speaking to yourself in front of the mirror and then try your presentation out on your family or friends. They can give you feedback and helpful suggestions.
AP18
November 17th, 2014 12:26pm
HI, Public speaking is an art, so the more you'll practice it, the better it becomes. Try pitching your speeches in front of a mirror for a number of times. Ask someone to listen to you once you've practiced your speech in front of the mirror and ask the person ( Good in public speaking) to correct you so that you do better. Presentations are nothing but taking a class room session for your colleagues or mates. Try involving them in your presentation. Have fun with it. Just have the idea of what you are talking about and what you want to explain... Jot down these points on paper so that you don't deviate from your goal. And even when you are nervous trust me nobody knows that apart from you so just take it ahead till the end and smile, when necessary... :)
wildlandf
December 27th, 2015 8:01pm
Imagine the presentation going above average. Most of the time our nervousness is caused by a deep underlying fear that we will fail, get rid of this idea and replace it with a positive idea, and the nervousness should subside.
Anonymous
January 29th, 2016 6:34pm
A lot of people have those problems and you should ask device from people how overcomes That sort of problem personally
Marina727
October 8th, 2014 6:20pm
Practice with family members and friends by giving presentations on a topic you are passionate about.
Anonymous
September 17th, 2015 10:30pm
Practice Practice Practice. There is no other way around it. Without practice, you can't get the experience you need. Try with people you are comfortable with. Then move on to people you know less well.
KeenToThee
December 20th, 2015 3:28am
From personal experience, be sure to practice presenting multiple times in order to ensure you know how you will present. Also, ask a teacher, classmate or friend to critique how you present. The feedback they give you will become very beneficial for you to know what you did well on and what you should practice more. Also ask the people who critique you if there is anything they think you should add that is missing or should elaborate less on so you will not get TOO carried away.
WhisperingPiano
December 3rd, 2015 8:40pm
Everyone feels nervous when they speak in public. So remember that it is always natural to feel a little nervous about going on stage. I think everyone is different but the following could help a lot: Practice in front of a mirror over and over. Find out where the weak spots in your presentation are and focus on them. Practice in front of friends, family, mentors. Remember that people don't go to bed at night thinking about your presentation and all the mistakes you made. Little mistakes are common and accepted. There is nothing wrong with fumbling over your words a little. If you are feeling a little overwhelmed, there is nothing wrong with taking a slight pause for a second, deep breath to regain composure.
reservedexcitment
December 19th, 2015 1:22am
What helps me is knowing that people really dont care what you say, you could go up there and as long as it sounds kinda right th3y would be fine. Co workers rarely as co workers questions, they will grill management, but they get a trill out of that, at least the ,anagment at my work does. Do you even listen during meetings? Probably not, so im sute most are zoning out too.
Shikamaru42
December 23rd, 2015 11:44am
Do a lot of preparation. When you talk, try to concentrate not on your surroundings, e.g. how people look at you, but on the content of what you are saying. Speak calm, make your point sentence for sentence. If you can't help looking around, try to find a point to rest your eyes, maybe on the opposite wall of the room. Change it from time to time so it doesn't look like you're staring at something. Find a good position to rest your hands. If you don't know where to put them, that will only make you more nervous. Make it a ritual - being in a familiar position will calm you down.
Anonymous
December 16th, 2015 9:53am
Do it more! Public speaking makes even the best speakers nervous. The only way to get past it is to do it more. Join a toastmasters club or something of the like. Just understand that the people you're presenting to want you to suceed!
cuteava
December 19th, 2015 7:14am
practice practice practice! the more familiar you are with your material, the more comfortable you'll be with presenting it.