Public speaking can be a frightening prospect for many of us. The thought of being so exposed and having people look at us, waiting patiently to absorb the fascinating facts that we are deemed to be exposing to them can be daunting, to say the least. Even the most outwardly confident of us, when faced with a room full of knowledge-thirsty people, can be forgiven for experiencing the tiniest bit of nervous energy – that is completely normal. Even those who have been speaking publicly for years often confess to butterflies in their stomachs and sweaty palms before addressing an audience.

Of course, the art of public speaking is not confined to performing in front of large audiences. Anyone addressing smaller, more intimate settings, such as an interview, online networking or business meetings, or even voicing ones opinion amongst a group of peers can conjure the same fears. The idea is the same and, understandably, anyone can find it difficult to confidently and concisely impart their thoughts, when they believe that their opinion is being scrutinised by those watching.

However, in all honesty, speaking out in front of others really doesn’t need to be as daunting as it seems. There are a few little tricks that we can all use to make a public speaking experience a little bit easier and maybe even an enjoyable experience! Below is a list of five simple tips that are so often not implemented and if followed, could make a world of difference. If you follow these pointers, trust me, you should be on the road to feeling more confident about any public speaking performance.

1. Know your subject

This may sound obvious but you have no idea how many clients I have worked with who, when quizzed on their subject of choice, have stared back at me with blank faces, as though they had never even heard of what they are claiming to be an expert on. The first step in being able to speak confidently to an audience, however large or small it may be, is knowing what you want to get across to them. This may mean researching any frequently asked questions, so you have an idea of what your audience may be interested to learn about. Or just acquiring a wider knowledge on what you want to say. Ask others what they would want to know and find out the answer, if you don’t already know it. The more you know about your chosen subject, the more confident you are bound to feel. Why make this situation more stressful than it needs to be?

(Take away – Research your subject. The more you know, the more confident you will feel about telling people.)

2. Use prompt cards/notes

Making notes does not mean you can ignore the first tip. Far from it. By prompt cards, I mean bullet points or one liners that can jog your memory and make you feel more secure that you won’t forget any important facts you want to get across. In some cases you may even be able to write the entire script down (I personally tend to advise against this). If you do that though, I would recommend large writing, spacing it well, perhaps using different colours for some sections and wording, so you don’t lose your place, and knowing the contents of your speech well, so that you can make eye contact with your audience. Fully reading from a script can often sound stilted and you may well lose the interest of your audience if you don’t work on your intonation and body language – and eye contact.

Some of the world’s greatest speakers use notes as a mental crutch. They can help to keep you focussed and more confident. Just try not to fidget with them too much and if they are on separate cards or more than one piece of paper, make sure they are in order before you start. I would recommend that if using old fashioned pen and paper, you use only one side of the paper or pad, so you can easily move onto the next without too much shuffling.

Even in an interview, there is nothing wrong with taking in some notes. Perhaps you have thought of some questions for your interviewer, or an example of something you are proud of that you don’t want to forget in the heat of the moment. Nobody will look down on you if you make notes beforehand; on the contrary, many people will appreciate that you have taken the time and initiative to do some research. In fact, this brings me on to my next point quite nicely.

(Take away: Make short succinct points that will jog your memory and keep you on track when making your presentation).

3. Preparation is key.

Notes will only have been created if you have prepared for your speech and ideally practised it too. It is the same with most things in life: the more you practise the better you become; and in turn, the better and more versed you are with something, the more confident you will feel when it comes to showing others. Throwing oneself in the deep end with anything does not often end up the way we might like it to. That is not to say that there aren’t those out there who thrive on the unknown, live life on the fly and seem, outwardly at least, to get away with it. If you are one of those people, firstly, well done! Secondly, why are you reading this article? Thirdly, can you imagine how different your presentation might have been if you had actually prepared something beforehand and how much less stress you might have had to go through to get the same (if not better) result?

For the rest of us, the more we know what we are doing, the more likely it is we will succeed at it. I often do roleplays with my clients, where they present whatever it is they are working towards, as though they are actually at the event at that time. If you can practise in front of someone who could give constructive feedback, that’s ideal. If not, why not repeat your speech in front of a mirror or record yourself on your phone and play it back to critique yourself?

Plus, do not forget the power of visualisation. Just imagining yourself speaking well at that conference, completing your sales pitch perfectly or killing that interview, can often have a profoundly positive effect. The more you ‘see’ yourself doing something, the more your brain will begin to believe that you have actually done it. It takes the fear of the unknown out of the equation and when you come to doing your presentation for real, your mind believes this is a repeat, so you’re not as nervous as you might have been had you never done it before. Also, by then, you probably know your speech and subject so well that it will be spilling off your tongue like it is second nature to you.

(Take away – practise in front of a mirror, with someone you trust or just imagine it playing out well in your mind a few times and try to record yourself for analysis before the actual presentation).

4. Breath control

Of course we all breathe but the rate and speed of our breathing has a profound effect on how our bodies behave. When you are anxious, breathing often becomes fast and shallow, causing the heart rate to rise and send stress signals to your entire body. That is not ideal when trying to show how cool and collected you are whilst performing to your audience.

The power of breath is so important. Try breathing in some quick, shallow breaths and notice the rate of your heart, the lack of oxygen getting to your brain and how you start to feel. My guess is you might feel a bit light-headed, unable to concentrate or think straight, and generally a little bit stressed and uptight!

Now, turn it around, breathe in deeply and slowly to the count of 4, hold it for 2 seconds and then exhale for 4 seconds. Do that a few times and begin to notice that everything seems clearer, calmer and generally as though you are more in control. So, when performing, how would you rather feel? You can create that feeling of calm during your performance through taking your time and slow breathing.

In addition to the calming experience, feel free to use breath in order to pause and gather your thoughts. You may have seen that some of the best speakers actually talk slowly with quite a few pauses. Not only does it decrease your stress levels, make you more in control of your thoughts and what you want to get across, but also, how you behave has a profound effect on how your audience feels too. When you are calm, slow and concise, your audience naturally mirrors you and feels the same way. When they aren’t overwhelmed they will listen more closely and be on your side.

(Take away – learn to control how you are feeling through your breathing. The slower and more fully you breathe, the calmer you will feel and consequently more confident and able to convey yourself more easily).

5. Your audience doesn’t need to be naked; they are on your side!

You may have heard the old proverb – imagine your spectators are naked in front of you. Now, while that may work for some people (and indeed it can be a fantastic tool), there are undoubtedly instances when that trick might be a recipe for nightmares rather than a quick confidence boost.

Remember that your audience is there because they are interested in YOU and what you have to say! This is your chance to shine – why not make the most of it and just enjoy it? Would you really want your audience to undress while you’re speaking to them? They’re not monsters. They are people just like you and me. They have their own problems, fears, exciting prospects and so forth, just like you. They eat, drink, go to the toilet and sleep. Just like you.

Everything we feel is a state of mind and you can decide to have a terrible time or a good time – which would you prefer?

This could be a great experience for you. Someone else believed in you enough to come and watch you or to invite you to speak, interview, present, or whatever it is you are doing. If others believe you can do it, why not believe in yourself too? And remember, if you mess up, just breathe and start again or maybe make a little joke of it (if appropriate). Laughing often breaks the ice and remember, people do want you to succeed. They will be on your side. Smile at your audience – let them into your world. A smile says a thousand words. Whilst a cheesy old saying, it’s very true. It doesn’t cost anything to smile. It will immediately disarm your audience and, whether you are trying to or not, a grin on your face will make you feel happier and more positive. What have you got to lose?

(Take away – Remember that people are on your side. Smile, be yourself and just enjoy the moment. You are there anyway, you may as well make the most of it).

If you follow these five simple tips, the art of speaking out in public should become easier and you are bound to feel more in control of the situation. At the end of the day, you will be taking the limelight for a short amount of time. What you have to say IS important and people DO want to hear about it. Be confident, stand (or sit) tall, smile, look them straight in the eye, breathe and go ahead. When you know what you have to say is interesting (of course it is, you wouldn’t be interested in it if it wasn’t), surely it is your duty to make others realise their interest in it as well. Just enjoy it and everyone else will too.