(HealthDayNews) -- The prospect of public speaking can render people speechless. Toastmasters International offers these tips to help you control your nervousness:
- Know the room. Arrive early to familiarize yourself with the place in which you'll speak.
- Know the audience. Greet some people when they arrive; it's easier to speak to a group of friends than a room full of strangers.
- Know your material.
- Visualize yourself giving your speech.
- Realize that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating and informative.
- Don't apologize for your nervousness. You may be calling attention to something the audience hadn't noticed.
- Concentrate on the message, not the medium.
- Turn nervousness into positive energy.