Mark Twain said it best, “There are two types of speakers: those who are nervous and those who are liars.”

Actually some of the most famous presenters in the world have admitted to being anxious before speaking in front of a large group. Let’s face it, it’s perfectly normal to be nervous when presenting. According to most studies, people’s number one fear is the fear of public speaking, followed by the fear of death. I don’t know about you but I can say that death is way higher on my list of fears than speaking to a group of people. To reduce your fears, there are some things that you need to do to make sure that you are properly and thoroughly prepared yourself before you speak. Below I have listed a few suggestions on how to overcome stage fright. These tips will work regardless of whether you speak with your natural voice (as I used to), or you use an AAC device (as I do now).

1. Get to know the room and the audience you will be addressing. Even before you are scheduled to present, visit the room where you are going to do the presentation. The logic behind this is by arriving early and familiarizing yourself with your surroundings, you can reduce your stress level. If possible, greet some of the attendees as they arrive and chat with them. It is much easier to speak in front of friends than in front of a group of strangers.
2. Practice relaxation techniques. Controlling your breathing is one of the best ways to overcome the jitters. Take a deep cleansing breath in through your nose, hold it for five seconds, and release it through your mouth. Repeat this several times. You can also relieve tension by exercising your facial muscles. Open your mouth and eyes as wide as you can and close them tightly. Rolling your shoulders and moving your head from side-to-side is another way to break up the tension as well.
3. Know your material. This is a very important tip. If you’re not familiar with your material or are uncomfortable with it, nervousness will increase. Be prepared. Practice your presentation and revise it until it comes naturally.
4. Realize that people don’t want you to fail. I know that it’s hard to believe but people don’t want to see you crash and burn. They want for you to succeed. Audiences want a speaker to be interesting, informative and entertaining. Personally, I find it is a good idea to start off with an ice-breaker. A joke usually can cut the tension in half.
5. Make eye contact. When scanning the crowd, find a friendly face to focus in on. Try to find a smiling face, someone who looks like they want you to do well. If focusing in on faces increases your anxiety, scanning just above the heads of the people in the audience works just as well. At a distance no one in the audience can tell that you’re not looking directly at them. This may reduce the level of anxiety that you have.

The key is to use the nervousness to aid you in the delivery of your speech. Know that it’s normal to experience some sort of anxiety when getting up to the podium. “Just do your best, and don’t worry about the rest,” is what my mother always said. Her wise words served me just as well today now that I use AAC as they did when I was younger and spoke with my natural voice.