Tips for Fearing Public Speaking Less Than Death

Recently, I took a management course in which the instructor said the number one skill holding people back from advancement at work is poor communications. If your fear of speaking in public is holding you back, check out these 7 little tricks to speak in public without fear.

As someone with little personal shame and who enjoys speaking in public, I can testify to how well many of these tips work. Some of the best:

Admit nervousness. If you're insecure about your presentation, tell the audience, and make light of it in the process. For example, you can say something like, "On the way here, only God and I knew what I will be presenting. Now, only God knows."

Invest in visual aids. Use a PowerPoint deck or some other kind of visual. Why? It takes the audience's focus off of you, giving you an opportunity to relax and do your thing without feeling like dozens of hungry eyes are drilling into your soul.

Make mistakes intentionally. You can "accidentally" drop your notes, for example, and then remark that the presentation might now become even more confusing. The key is to disarm the audience by using light humor and playing off your own discomfort.

Speak to one person at a time. Even though I enjoy public speaking, I tend to get intimidated by large crowds. So I don't focus on the flock, but instead speak to just one person. Work him or her awhile, then move onto someone else in a different part of the room.