100 experts shared their best strategies for overcoming the fear of public speaking. The top responses included: preparing thoroughly, practicing speeches in front of small groups, practicing with video recordings to see yourself as the audience does, gaining experience through frequent public speaking, using power poses and breathing techniques, starting with a personal story, focusing on engaging the audience, and displaying confident body language.

2. 100 EXPERTS
SHARE STRATEGIES ON HOW TO
OVERCOME YOUR FEAR OF PUBLIC
SPEAKING
Hi, my name is Akash and I’m a presentation skills coach and
author of “Public Speaking Secrets of the Champions”. I asked over
100 public speaking experts, “What’s the best way to overcome
your fear of public speaking?” The responses below are the best
answers I received on how to overcome the butterflies when
speaking.
Akash Karia
http://www.CommunicationSkillsTips.com

3. Prepare
A simple but unrivaled-in-importance response in one word: Preparation
Gerry T. Kierans
www.mgtopen.com
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I am someone who had terrible stage fright and learned to conquer it. As a theatre major in
college and an aspiring actress, that was not a good thing at all!
I learned so much from my mentor and former employer actress Olympia Dukakis. She
prepared by rehearsing over and over so the words came easily. She also found out in
advance about her audience so that her remarks were relevant and meaningful. And she got
to the venue with time to spare to feel the space.
I now do all of these things and the stage fright has blessedly gone away. The message and
the desire to be understood becomes far more important than the fear of speaking. Good
luck! I feel your pain and wish you all the best.

4. Bonnie Low-Kramen
www.bonnielowkramen.com
Just going ahead, with as much preparation as possible, and doing it, is the best way I have
so far managed to overcome my fear of Public Speaking:)
Mohammed Naveed Usmani
www.facebook.com/ABWALSoft
I find that preparation and practice are the best methods to overcoming public
speaking. Also know your audience- get to the event early and talk with attendees
beforehand.
Marsha Haygood
www.stepwiseassociates.com
Prepare; and then prepare some more. After you've done all of that preparing do one last
thing; prepare and practice some more.!!
David Roussel

5. Practice with
an audience
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One of the things I recommend and have my do is practice their speeches in front of
loved ones, and in class in front of small groups (3-5 people). This accomplishes
several things.
First, it forces my students to speak out loud just as if they were actually giving their speech
to their intended audience. Second, helps them work out all the um’s, ahhs, and OK’s. Third,
and most importantly, it gets them accustomed to speaking in front of people. I have used
this simple strategy with great success. Typically my students are terrified of speaking in
front of a group of people. Using this strategy helps ease them into public speaking.
Renato Amarena

6. Practice with
Video
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My number one tip for overcoming the fear of public speaking is to PRACTICE WITH VIDEO.
While it is helpful to practice before friends, family and the mirror; none of these can be as
effective as recording yourself speaking and then watching it on playback.
Practicing with video allows you to actually see what the audience will see. You get
to hear your own voice coming into your ears through the air and not through your head as it
normally does (a lot of people are surprised when they hear themselves for the first time.
They can't believe how their voice actually sounds!)
Video is the closest thing you have to the real audience.

7. PS: I suggested using video because it is the best practically available option people have (at
least, everybody now owns a camera phone so, no excuse). However, not even video comes
close to the "curative" effects/powers of VIRTUAL REALITY (VR). If you can afford a VR
treatment, go for it. The simulated experience of actual immersion in front of a dynamic
virtual audience is totally un-paralleled!
Jonas Ezeanya
www.livespeech.org

8. Stage Time
The longer you speak, and the more prepared and comfortable you are
with each passing speech, there is very little fear, if any.
At least that's how it has been for me.
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Plus, I just focus and concentrate on my message, which is to help other recovering addicts
get better, and I really do not feel any fear or nervousness at all.
There is no replacement for experience, and those who still do have fear and get nervous
would be wise to channel that energy towards their audience.
Gary Goldstein
Speak more frequently. In front of an audience. Everything else comes after.
John Chappelear

9. Power Pose
For 5 minutes before each presentation, take on a 'Power Pose' - this is
standing tall and straight with shoulders back, loose arms and open stance
- this facilitates the diaphragmic breathing.
Posted by Gareth Humphris
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www.edvantagechina.com
Stand tall, shoulders back, head up so that the head and spine are aligned, eyes to the
horizon, shoulders down and arms relaxed
Peter McCann
www.mccaconsultants.com

10. Start with a
Story from
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Your Life
Start with a story from your life. That will calm you down and you'll get your brain in the right
place.
Lorie Eber
www.AgingBeatsTheAlternative.com

11. Breathe
Breathing: take several quick, short breaths through the nose and exhale
from the mouth; then a long, slow inhale through the nose and a long slow
exhale through the mouth; then, a long, slow inhale through the nose and
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hold for five seconds, then a long, slow exhale through the mouth and hold empty for five
seconds. (This breathing takes practice, maybe for a week or more to become skillful and
natural.)
Peter McCann
www.mccaconsultants.com
By taking a deep breath, exhale slowly before going in front of a group of people.
Madeline Case

12. smile
When you practice and when you speak, look out to the middle of the
audience. Smile at someone in the middle and imagine that person is
friendly and interested. Speak to that person for a few seconds. Then, look
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to the left or right side and smile at someone and imagine that person is friendly and
interested. Continue. (And, people are almost always friendly and interested!)
Peter McCann
www.mccaconsultants.com

13. Know the Venue
If possible, get to the venue with time to spare.
Stand at the place from which you will present, look into every corner of the
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room/hall/space, take a deep, slow, mindful breath, filling your lungs. Exhale slowly and
allow your positive energy to fill the room.
You might then go to each corner of the room, turn and look at the space or place from which
you will present, and, again, fill the room with your positive energy - get a sense of the
proportions of the room and fully realize the implications of filling it with YOUR energy, into
which you will welcome the audience!
Michael Mallows
http://www.craftylistening.co.uk

14. Be Genuine
Genuinely You: Remembering that a true diamond has flaws,
excellence is your goal, not perfection.
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Genuinely Interested: Be more focused on your audience and their needs,
versus how you are being perceived.
Genuinely Engaged: A succesful speaker understands that a presentation is a conversation,
not a lecture, and that it's important to listen to the audience with your eyes and ears to
engage them fully. Fear naturally disappears when you're focused on the value of what you
have to give....
Rebecca Herrera

15. Focus on Your
Audience
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Focus on the Audience and ask yourself: "What can I offer them?", "How can I add value to
them?". When your thoughts completely at the audience, they are away from you
and fear can't exist.
Georg Wanek

16. Embrace the
Fear
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Fear of speaking is often fear of being afraid! Welcome the nerves. Embrace the fear. Fear
initiates adrenaline flow. Adrenaline creates energy that generates the will to
perform with enthusiasm, engagement - even excitement. Share adrenaline-induced
dynamism with your audience. Revel in and thrive on their reflected vitality. When the
pheromones start pinging round the room, know that you’ve overcome the fear and truly
connected with your audience.
Roger Harding

17. Don’t Worry 13
about Making
Mistakes
I heard somebody advise once that the best thing to keep in mind is that the audience is
thinking "glad it's not me" and they are on your side - so if you do make a mistake, they
understand...
Susan Walker

18. Display
Confident
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Body Language
Display confidence via body language. Negative body language tells the audience you are
nervous. Avoid touching the head/neck, looking at your feet, shoving hands in pockets. Act
like you know what you are doing.
Harry Hall
www.harryhallspeaks.com

19. Wrap Up
So, next time you feel the butterflies in your stomach, use the following 14 tips shared by our
experts:
 Prepare, prepare, prepare’
 Practice in front of a group of people
 Practice with video
 Get as much stage time as possible
 Use the power pose
 Start with a story from your own Life
 Use breathing techniques to calm down
 Visualize
 Know the Venue where you will be speaking
 Be genuine
 Focus on your audience
 Embrace the fear
 Don’t worry about making mistakes
 Display confident body language