Many people are not fans of public speaking, and while I can understand your fear, once you are up there, it is one of the most exciting things you can do. Over at LifeHacker they have an article up about public speaking, that has tips for those of you that sweat just thinking about it.

From LifeHacker:

Strong start
The first couple of minutes of your talk should be the most prepared and polished. You want to get off to a good start. Those are likely to be the most nervous moments so it is best not to leave anything to chance. By being well prepared, you can convey your messages with confidence. It is important to establish early on that you are prepared and are worth people’s attention.

Some other tips they mention include timing, confidence, and practice makes perfect. While many of these are common sense, I find that many people actually don’t do many of the items listed in their article, which just adds to their fears. When I am going to do a speech in public, I find that I do much better when I know my material well, and that provides the confidence that if I make a mistake, I can easily recover and continue. Knowledge is power in public speaking, and anyone can do it, just know your topic.

Tags: Public Speaking, LifeHacker, Tips