Successful public speaking can be achieved by facing your fears of it.

Lack of confidence, insufficient knowledge of the subject matter, lack of preparation, the fear of making mistakes or looking foolish usually cause the fear of speaking in public. Sufficient preparation and ample practice can help you control this.

When fear takes over, tension in your chest forces you to resort to costal breathing, making diaphragmatic breathing nearly impossible. Fear can force the voice into the throat, producing a tight, high-pitched, quavering sound. When uncontrolled fear is obvious to your audience, your message is compromised.

To control fear you must first identify its cause. If you fear making a mistake or forgetting, don't take yourself so seriously. It's how you handle the situation that matters. When you make an obvious mistake, treat it casually and with humor and the audience will identify with you.

We all fear making mistakes. This is very human. But often the audience is not even aware that a mistake has been made. If the mistake is not obvious, ignore it and move on.

Determine to control your fear rather than allowing it to control you. Create as many opportunities for speaking in public as possible. Join Toastmasters, a community theater group or take a class in public speaking or dramatics. Read aloud to get used to the sound of your voice. Always practice your speech out loud.

Irrational fear can be conquered if it is faced squarely. Following are a few steps that will help you:

Identify the cause of your fear and anxiety.

Practice out loud.

Practice positive self-talk.

Recognize that making a mistake is not fatal.

Concentrate on the message.

Learn how to effectively improve your public speaking performance with Building the Power of Your Voice: How to Improve Your Voice to Command Attention & Move People to Action.
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