7 Tips to Reduce Your Fear of
Public Speaking

Remember the movie "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray? In that movie, Murray has to relive the same day over and over again until he gets it right.

When it comes to public speaking, we also need to practice again and again, until we get it right.  That helps reduce our fear of public speaking.  But, how do we practice effectively?  Here are 7 tips:

1) Hire a coach to help you write and rehearse your speech:

My friend Anne takes piano lessons when she needs to learn a new song. She knows how to play a piano. But, she likes the extra help when trying new material. The same is true when trying a new speech. A good speech coach can help your organize your thoughts, develop your audio visuals and practice your delivery.

2) Practice in front of a mirror:

Record your practice with a tape recorder. You can hear your voice and the content of your speech. However, you won't be able to see your body language.

3) Record yourself with a camcorder:

You can see your body language and hear your voice.  Videotaping is a very useful tool.  I use it with several of my clients at my public speaking workshops.

4) To help you practice, print out your speech:

If you prefer to write out your complete speech - word for word - mark your script like an actor. Use a pen and underline key phrases. Use up arrows to mark sentences that end in an exclamation. Rehearse your speech using your marked script. Your goal is not to read the script, but to build your rhythm.

5) Memorize your first 60 seconds and your last 60 seconds:

That's when you're most likely to feel nervous.

6) Practice using your audiovisual equipment:

A common mistake is to rehearse your speech but fail to practice with your audio-visual equipment.  As a result, you sound great - until you start fumbling with your equipment. Then, you get frazzled and lose your composure.

7) Recruit an audience:

If you have time, find a friendly audience to practice in front of.  Don't ask them if they liked the speech. That may be good for your ego but it doesn't help you prepare. Instead, ask if they want to hear more. That's the mark of a great speech.

Whatever you do, beware of rehearsing in front of friends and family members. They can be ruthless in their criticisms or biased in favor of not hurting your feelings. Either way, you won't get a true read about the quality of your speech. Instead, find a neutral audience so you can practice.

So remember the "Groundhog Day" technique and practice your speech until you get it right. Not only will you make a better impression, you'll also reduce your fear of public speaking.