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Be prepared. If you're naturally nervous about public speaking, then being poorly prepared will only make matters worse. Make investment and take the time do your homework properly. Plan what you're going to say, do the research, and take thorough notes. Knowing you are ready before you get up on stage will give you more confidence. Speak from notes, don't read a pre-written speech. It takes a highly-trained, professional actor to be able to read sentences from a page and make them sound like natural speech. If you have those acting skills, you certainly don't need to read this information. But if you're like most of us, it's best not to read a speech. A few notes with key words or phrases written on index cards will remind you of what ideas you will talk about. Structure your talk with an introduction, middle and conclusion. Tell what you're going to say, say it, then tell what you've said. Be yourself. Make it real. When you're talking about something familiar to yourself, you will feel more natural and your audience will accept you more readily. So think of how your topic relates to yourself, and include stories that relate to your own personal experience. Rehearse, at least a couple of times, preferably at least one day before your speech. Once you are familiar with everything written on your note cards, you'll have no trouble telling people about it. And "sleeping on it" does wonders for helping you remember facts and figures. Prepare yourself mentally, like an athlete before a competition. Immediately before going out onto the stage, take a few moments to be by yourself and "psych" yourself into a positive frame of mind. Repeat the following phrase to yourself several times: "I'm glad I'm here. I'm glad you're here. I know what I know." When you're in position on the stage, wait an extra moment before you start. Take a deep breath, and try to remember to keep breathing. If your mouth is dry, have a glass or bottle of water handy and take a sip. Direct your speech to one person. Imagine that someone you like and trust, and someone who likes you, is way in the back of the audience. Address the majority of your speech to her or him. Of course, don't just stare in one spot. Once you've gained momentum, pick out a few other friendly faces in different parts of the audience and include them in what you have to say. Smile. Unless your talk is about something deadly serious, let the audience see that you're having a good time up there. Don't rush. Savor the moment. Speaking too fast makes your words hard to understand. If the audience can see that you feel good, that will make them feel good too, and your speech will be even more successful.
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