What are some ways to calm your nerves before speaking in public?

Being a little nervous is actually ok before speaking in public… roll with it, embrace it, harness it for what you’re about to do. Remember 2 things… your start… and your close. Once you get started… you get in the groove. One more tip from my good friend and neuroscientist, David Rock… eat a cookie 5 minutes before. You use a lot of glucose in your brain when you get jittery… and a cookie feeds it fast and keeps you thinking sharp. Be confident… I’m certain you’re going to crush it.

I totally agree that one of the key ways to conquer nervousness in public speaking is to know your audience. Personally, when I'm invited as a guest speaker, I always make sure to find out who will be in the audience - their age range, educational background, interests, and what they expect from the event. This helps me prepare my materials to match their perspective and anticipate potential questions. And let me tell you, it really helps calm my nerves!

If I reflect on the past decade, I think I have given around 300+ public talks, speeches and presentations. Here are a few tips that always work: Take a moment: When you are given the chance to speak, always take a moment to read the room and reflect on the key message that you want to land at the end of your presentations. Find your buddies: Look around the room and read through people expressions. The ones who are nodding or smiling to your messages are the your buddies that will give you positive reinforcement throughout your talk. Go slow: Its just a talk, not a marathon. Go slow and take ample pauses to let your audience absorb your messages and to give yourself enough moments to breathe in and out.

Ditch the slides! Talk to your audience directly via storytelling and focus on a few main points to get across. To ditch the slides you need to feel confident in what you are saying which takes practice. As difficult as it may be, practice as much as possible to become comfortable and confident… remember the nerves usually go away after the first 10seconds of talking!

A tactic I use all the time is stepping into a 'character' version of myself who is a confident and engaging public speaker. Create this version of yourself in your mind — their voice, their mannerisms, their expressions and gesticulations — and then visualize them in the setting where you will speak. When it's time, step into character; when it's over, step out and enjoy the applause.

For me, this exercise brings in the finest out of me. One may ask WHY? I am a firm believer of having not just Self Belief but also the right Self Concept! I take a moment to reflect the target audience in front of whom I would be speaking - thinking how confident and authentic I am while answering to them I am making things pretty simple for my audience and they are simply loving it - even if something goes wrong in terms of the sentence that am using, I have the capability to bring the situation back in control This is one process that can never leave you behind ;)

I both agree and disagree with this statement. I feel like public speaking has become less cinematic and more robotic. Listen to your favorite song. Get pumped. Get excited! Then give them everything you’ve got.

Nervous energy is a valuable resource. Don't quench it, embrace it! Sure, know your material cold, know your audience, etc. but don't over think it. Be real, tell stories, enjoy the moment.

Before delving a workshop or giving a talk I still get nervous and despite always being well prepared and well on time, I still have to run for a very late toilet break which at least means I'm free of any overwhelming need for a toilet break during the presentation. I found cue cards very useful, but I also often fully script my talk and at times turn to it and read, audiences appreciate you are being careful and often pay a little more attention. Know who invited you to speak and what they and the event are about, and listen to those on stage before you. Make meaningful references to all of these in your own presentation

I've always been a firm believer of using positive affirmations and they have been nothing less than magical for me. Sharing a few examples that I firmly believe in using prior to my public speaking: - I am brilliant - I am awesome - I have delivered one of the finest presentations This is not to say that I may not get goosebumps...but its a way to manage myself better ;)

When you, as a speaker, focus on adding value to your audience and really hone in on the core of your message, it's amazing how it helps shift your attention away from any nerves you might be feeling. Think of it this way: instead of worrying about yourself, you're concentrating on what your audience needs and wants to hear. It's not just about you up there on the stage, it's about them. When you get caught up in the importance of your message and how it can truly impact your listeners, your mind doesn't have space to dwell on anxiety or fear.

Focusing on the key messages is one of the most powerful tools I found in my public speeches and presentations. The speaker shall prepare a short list of three to five key messages, depending on the subject and the length of the speech. Each key message shall be composed of one or two sentences, a maximum of three. Usually, each part or chapter of your speech ends with one of those messages. You need to invest almost 60-70% in practising the speech on the key messages. Practice your tone of voice and how slow and firm you deliver them. Mastering your key messages not only makes you less nervous and better prepared, but it will also guarantee a successful speech. And with repetition, it becomes natural as second nature.

When I’m speaking at a conference where there are other speakers before me (especially with remotely similar topics), and if my schedule allows, I try to catch some of those sessions. That way, if there are common threads to pick up or allude back to, I can drive the point home in a way that resonates. It’s good karma to call out other speakers and build on their point if they’ve said something you’re echoing - and it leaves the audience nodding rather than rolling their eyes and thinking “Yeah, I’ve already heard that.”

Allow yourself to be HUMAN! Perfect isn't always what resonates most deeply with an audience. You want to be relatable. Know what you want to say, but do not rely on 'memorization'. You are taking your audience on a journey. You are experiencing it together. In this sense, every speaking engagement will be different and your ability to adjust will make the differrence between 'falling flat' and your audience falling in love with you!