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

164 Answers Moderated by Brooke Bowen, LPC Updated: Nov 28, 2023

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Anonymous on Sep 11, 2014

in my personal experience, for me to lose this fear i did 3 things. 1. change my mind set, fear of public speaking is on of the most common fear, this happens because when we are speaking with all this eyes on us we are afraid we are being judged, or we afraid that we will mess up, or maybe be silent for to long. so when i say i had to change my mind set i mean, i had to tell my self that people are listening for theyre own interest, they are not there for me, they are there for the for the information i have to offer them.  2.i had to stop thinking about what could go wrong, when i had a presentation coming up i only had to think about the information i was about to give and how i was going to give it. i wouldnt block the negative thoughts, i would embrace them, why do i do this? well if i block it out it will always be there, it wont go away and also we only learn when we fail, so dont be afraid to fail. 3. face your fears, ive learn that the only way of getting rid of a fear is by facing it, no matter how hard it is, you can put it on hold, you can try to run away from it but it will always be there until you face it. so i just take a deep breath and go for it

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PositivityHereAlways on Nov 22, 2015

Lets start by asking yourself this: Can you imagine yourself being the most confident speaker during your presentations and meetings? If yes, good. This is the mindset you need. If no, then this is where the core of your problem lies.

A fear of public speaking is often related with social anxiety - being afraid of what others think, disliking being the centre of attention, being judged etc.

The way you can beat this is firstly by believing you can. If you think this has something to do with social anxiety then something that will help you would be to do things that you would not normally do or be afraid to do - something out of your comfort zone. Push yourself to do things in social situations, this will build your confidence (step by step, no need to rush) and before you know it, you'll be the most confident speaker out of all your colleagues.

However, if you think this is not related with social anxiety and just get nervous about public speaking, I would suggest the first thing you do is the ask yourself why. Is it because you're afraid of being judged? Language barrier? Anything. Then reassure yourself, because I'm going to be completely honest with you: most people don't really care. They are probably thinking about something else or how to present their own presentations. They are not there to mock you, trust me.
Finding out why you get nervous and believing it WILL get better is the first major steps you can take.

Let me tell you a story: I was terrified of public speaking, even the thought of it made me nervous. But the problem with me, was I wanted to be good at public speaking but never really tried. I just complained and that made my situation worse. I then came to my senses and sought out for guidance and help. My problem was I had social anxiety so over a course of 1-2 years (my social anxiety was pretty bad) I gradually overcame my problem, without the help of any therapist. I believed in myself.

Bottom line is, you don't need anyone else's acceptance of you - you need to accept yourself! Don't care about what other people think. If you don't care about what they think, then you could start and finish your presentation in a breeze.

I hope I helped, good luck! :)

Anonymous on Apr 12, 2015

Maybe it would sound weird, but by practicing. You should start with talking to yourself first; if you're ashamed, you can wait until your house is empty so you can do it. Maybe you can talk to your pet, if you have one. Then, when you feel ready enough, talk in front of your family members. Then to your friends, again, when you feel ready enough... And finally, I guess you'll be prepared for public speaking. It takes time, don't force yourself too much, if you're not brave enough for something or feel uncomfortable doing it, don't do it. As I said, when you feel ready, do it, and I think that by practicing you will feel ready soon. For more help, you can contact me here! :)

Steve100 on Sep 25, 2015

Giving presentations can actually become fun. I used to be petrified of speaking in public. However, once I improved, I started "raising my hand" to speak as often as possible.

I developed a workshop known as S.P.E.A.K which I use to train people on how to become more comfortable mastering the skill of communicating effectively.

The quick tip for today is all about structure. A lack of structure often causes a speaker to get nervous and perform poorly. Having a clear structure accomplishes two things. 1) You hardly ever forget what you want to say. 2) You give the audience a great way to stay engaged the entire time.

For instance, when I start my speech by introducing the S.P.E.A.K acronym, the audience has a complete "road map" of what I will be discussing which prevents them from losing focus. I also know exactly where I am in the presentation and never have to worry about losing my train of thought; this also makes you appear polished.

This one simple technique will lessen your fears substantially. If you ever have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

warmSunshine98 on Oct 21, 2015

I still get nervous when I speak in a large setting is not my comfort zone.  I do a lot of preparation in front of a mirror and listen to my self by recording what i am speaking about.

Anonymous on Sep 11, 2015

I used to be a shy person , and every time and my teach said that we have a research project which includes a representation at the end , I used to freak out, and the day of the presentation I used to be very nervous , but the. I realized that we all make mistakes , so it's fine if you were presenting and u said someone thing wrong , it's not a big deal.

HopefulObserver on Sep 16, 2015

Although a room full of beady eyes staring at you may feel incredibly intimidating, most people sitting in front of you really do want you to be successful at your presentation. In a meeting, they want you to get your point across and help them know the goals and objects. It is easy for us to get caught up in worrying about what other people thing of what we look like, what we are wearing and even how we talk. Most of the time people just want to hear want you are saying. So go in with the attitude that those people are cheering for you.. not judging! 

Jadie on Nov 7, 2014

Remember to breathe - a lot of the times when we are nervous, it's the first thing that we forget, and it causes us to tense up and for our muscles to lose control (this can result in stuttering or shaking). It's helpful to focus on the content instead of the audience. Also, test-running a speech in front of friends can be a good experience to anticipate what might come up as a challenge when you are delivering the content in front of people!

Apple74 on Oct 31, 2014

Practice what you are going to say. Write it down completely, memorize it and think of all things that you can be asked. Make sure you know all answers. If you have  a 10 minute presentation, think it may last for 20 minutes and be ready with extra preparation. Practice deep breathing for calming yourself . Everyone makes little mistakes. 

fromthesea on Nov 9, 2014

Practice practice practice! Practice makes perfect. In my experience, you get less nervous when you do it more often. You can make yourself less nervous by making sure you know everything perfectly and, a tip I got from Ned's Survivalguide, imagine everyone in their underwear. Just don't start laughing ;)

Anonymous on Aug 30, 2015

I never get over the nervousness, but I learned that really preparing before meetings and really knowing my stuff for presentations is the first step.  Then I make sure I get good sleep, and constantly focus on breathing slowly and evenly.  Feeling your hands or feet helps to ground you too.  Also, realize that you're not in the spotlight, that most people are thinking of themselves anyway, and won't notice the things that you overanalize yourself for....

hopefulFern65 on May 17, 2015

I think one of the best way is imagine yourself  frequently in your mind in this way : you  are speaking  in public very well and people enjoy and clap for you. you are very satisfy . this imagination has to be very normal with the real situation

Anonymous on Sep 21, 2015

Practice often helps. Rehearse what you would like to say in front of the mirror, in front of a pet, in front of friends or family members. Ask for their feedback. Bring notes as a backup plan. And sometimes, admitting that you're nervous when speaking to a crowd can help. Smile; say "Wow, there's so many of you. I'm nervous to be up here." It clears the air, and might help you feel more comfortable.

justanotherhuman8 on Sep 30, 2015

If I relax before I go on, my nerves just ease away. But how does one relax? By not obsessing over what you are about to do. If you go over and over your speech before you go on, you will be in a constant state of reminding yourself that you are about to make yourself nervous. Instead, do something to get your mind off what you are about to do.
Also, most people don't realize this, but nerves have a serious effect on how you speak in front of people. Nearly everyone who gets nervous when speaking in front of people will speak faster than they normally would. This can lead to you not being understood and most certainly seeming nervous. To avoid this pitfall, rehearse your speech more slowly than you would normally, you will be more at ease and relaxed when you rehearse. That way, when the nerves kick in, you will most likely be speaking at a normal pace.
Hope I was helpful! :D

Kyle2003 on May 24, 2015

As a member of the Air Force, I am also often asked to make presentations - sometimes in front of important, high-ranking officials. Preparation is the key to success. Create your initial draft, review it, make the necessary revisions, and then practice, practice, practice! You may choose a way to rehearse from several different ways; in front of a mirror, in front of friends or family, or even using a recording device to measure your pace. As long as you start early enough and make an honest effort to prepare, your presentation will have a much better chance at coming across clearly, and you will feel much better knowing you have the knowledge and confidence to give the best presentation that you possibly can. Additionally, you may want to consider taking a course through a local college or university, or even and adult education course, specifically designed to help you improve your public speaking skills. Good luck!

joeds94 on Nov 12, 2014

I also had this experience and i took it step by step, maybe practice it to yourself on your own in your room and go over it so it's clear to you, then ask a friend or family member to come in and practice in front of them. Take deep breathes and be confident in yourself that you know you can do this. The people you are doing a presentation to or in a meeting with are exactly the same as you, human beings. 

Kimmelane on Sep 10, 2015

What helped me the most was realizing that every single member of my audience would be just as nervous if he or she were in my shoes.  When I figured that out, suddenly I was able to talk to them as individuals rather than as an audience.  

yatish on Dec 4, 2015

its very easy. think you are expert of that subject and all audience knows nothing. Practice in front of full size mirror. And try to remember points only not full body. you can also refer to the book of Dale Carnegie "Public Speaking"   

catsby2 on Sep 3, 2015

The first thing I learned to not feeling nervous during presentations, is to be prepared. Know your information or topic without having to rely on note cards or a written script. Secondly, practice in front of a friend or family member multiple times, and ask them for their feedback. This allows you a couple of test trials. Lastly, speak boldly and with confidence, your tone of voice sets the stage for your presentation. 

PoliteOcean on Sep 4, 2015

You can improve your situation by being PREPARED. That is the key word. Being Prepared. Practice you presentation , make sure you know it inside and out, make sure you look the part while giving it. Plan a nice outfit or hairstyle. Something to help you feel "more confident" about yourself. Its ok to feel nervous, but being prepared might help you to ease those feelings for the better.