Public Speaking without Fear: How to Go from Nervous and Scared to Energized and Confident

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 an 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 of experience you have and no matter how much of a subject matter expert you are.

Why you should Attend

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

Areas Covered in the Session

We'll also delve into some physical stress reducers:

"Run the stairs"
Engage in quick vigorous exercise
Don't forget to breathe
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and the triple stack of pancakes at breakfast!

AUDIENCE FAVORITE: Learn the only sure-fire cure for eliminating the vocal garbage-the excessive "ums and uhs"- from your presentations. Hint: It's not what you may think it is.

Finally, discover some new action steps to take in the days and hours leading up to your next presentation so you can bring your "A Game" to the platform when it really counts.

Who Will Benefit

Subject Matter Experts
Instructors
Professional Development Specialists
Corporate Trainers
HR Professionals
Technical Professionals-and anyone who dreads Public Speaking

Speaker Profile

Mandi Stanley With more than 16 years of experience on the seminar circuit, Certified Speaking Professional Mandi Stanley works primarily with business leaders who want to boost their professional image and with people who want to be better speakers and writers.
In 2003, Mandi was designated a CSP, Certified Speaking Professional. Fewer than 9 percent of all worldwide speakers have earned this designation, and Mandi is the first Mississippian in history to receive this honor through the National Speakers Association.

She's a summa cum laude graduate with concentrations in English, communication, and management, and served as a faculty member of the American Management Association for five years. Mandi is the author of The No-Panic Plan for Presenters, which was named a Finalist in the Career category at the Independent Book Publishers Awards in New York. Audiences appreciate her platform enthusiasm, interactive style, and content-rich messages.