Whether in an informal setting or a more formal presentation, we all want to bring our “A Game” any time we speak up in a meeting or express our ideas. Plan to join us if:

• Quite frankly, you hate public speaking
• You’ve been embarrassed because you get shaky hands or a quivering voice when you stand up to speak
• You don’t want people in the audience counting every time you say “um” or “and uh”
• You just don’t want to be monotone when it’s your time to shine

Everyone from the anxious beginner to the confident professional will grow from expert advice on how to nix nervousness.

It’s no secret that many people do not like the thought of having to stand up and speak in front of audience, even if it’s an audience of their peers. The mere thought makes them break out in hives.

Conversely, some of you may be seasoned professional presenters who have no problem with public speaking. Indeed, you may be gifted in this area, love speaking in front of groups, and actually thrive off of the energy you receive from your audience. Still, even pros know as soon as you take the stage, as soon as the spotlight is on you, the anticipation of that presentation will manifest itself physically in some form or fashion, no matter how many years’ experience you have and no matter how much of a subject matter expert you are.

Being able to identify manifestations of nervousness and anxiety is the first step to overcoming them. What happens to you prior to a presentation? What are the telltale signs of nervousness you’ve observed in other presenters?

• Shaky hands
• Quivering voice
• Sweaty palms
• Dry mouth
• Trembling knees and legs
• Knots in your stomach
• Nausea
• High pitch 
• Talking too fast
• Poor eye contact
• Constant swallowing and throat clearing
• Monotone delivery
• Blotchy skin and hives

If you’ve ever experienced or noticed any of these tendencies, you’ll benefit from tried-and-true tips for turning panic into poise.

You can combat speaking anxiety both mentally and physically. First, we'll identify the number-one cause of speaking anxiety and then discuss some mental tips for calming your nerves:

• Remind yourself it’s all about your audience, not you
• Remember, you are among friends—even if you don’t know the people in the room
• Be comfortable with being uncomfortable
• Pinpoint your root cause
• Know your first words
• “Create confidence” with two actionable recommendations you’ll learn during the session