Through practice and experience, it’s possible not only to overcome stage fright but also to excel at public speaking.

Public speaking tops the list of fears for many people. Even giving a wedding toast to a roomful of family, friends and acquaintances can cause paralyzing fear for some.

But public speaking does not have to be a terrifying experience. There are many constructive steps you can take to overcome your public-speaking fears and move your speech in the right direction.

These five habits and practices are critical to every presentation in front of an audience.

Know the material.
Research your topic and practice. Know more about the topic than you include in your speech, Toastmasters International recommends. Know not only your topic and what you’re going to say about it but also how you want to say it.

Don’t wing it. Rehearse in the mirror or in front of friends or family members. “Keep practicing until you have your speech down perfectly,” StageCalm advises. “You can never practice too much, because once you are really familiar with your speech, you will be more comfortable with it and will present it much better as well.”

Take notes up to the podium, but do not read the speech or presentation word for word off paper. Instead, Toastmasters recommends using a “keyword” outline: “Look at the keyword to prompt your thoughts. Look into the eyes of the audience, then speak.”

Know the venue.
If possible, check the specs of the room where you’ll be speaking. “Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids,” Toastmasters advises.

“Now is the time to solve any issues that might arise with the physical space,” presentation skills blog Six Minutes says.

Among the issues to consider when acquainting yourself with the speaking area: doing an audio check and planning where projectors, props or notes will be placed.

The more familiar you are with that environment, the more comfortable you’ll be in it.

Know the audience.
Unless you’re giving a presentation on your life story, keep the focus off you and on the audience instead. Deliver the message they want (or need) to hear. “If you’re going to speak, ask yourself this question: What is the problem that the audience has for which my information … is the solution? Then design your speech around that problem,” Nick Morgan, author of the book Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and Charisma and founder of Public Words Inc., writes in a ChangeThis manifesto on public speaking.

“The best way to know what is going on with your audience is to look at them,” StageCalm says. “Make eye contact, smile at them.” During the speech or presentation, make eye contact with an individual in the audience and stay with that person long enough to deliver a full sentence or complete thought.

Toastmasters recommends greeting audience members as they arrive. For many, it’s easier to speak to a group of friends or acquaintances than to strangers.

Know your time limit.
Know what’s expected of you, and deliver that — no more, no less. During your practice speeches, you should have timed your presentation to keep to the limit you are given.

During the real speech, pace yourself. Don’t speed through the entire presentation; pause and give people a chance to understand what you are saying. Don’t go so slow as to run out of time later on, when much of the meaty information will be discussed. “If your speech is an hour, the first 20 minutes should be focused on [the] problems your audience is facing,” Morgan writes in Before you Open your Mouth: The Keys to Great Public Speaking. “Then, and only then, will the audience want to hear about the information you’ve brought to bear.”

Don’t be one of those speakers who tortures his or her audience by going on and on, caring little for the audience’s interest. And don’t waste the audience’s time by spending all your time discussing the “why” (as in, “Why should audience members care about this idea?”) of the speech and then running out of time before discussing the “how” (as in, “How do audience members implement this idea?”).

Know you’ll be OK.
“It really isn’t as bad as you’ve made it out to be in your head,” StageCalm says. We’re usually our own worst critics, but negative thinking is nothing but trouble. If you think you’re going to fail, you probably will.

If you do screw up during your speech, don’t dwell on it. Everyone makes mistakes. Self-critique your presentation, and seek and utilize feedback from audience members. “Aim for continuous improvement, and understand that the best way to improve is to solicit candid feedback from as many people as you can,” Six Minutes recommends.

Finally, Toastmasters reminds us, “realize that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They’re rooting for you.”

We’ve only scratched the surface here. Do you have any of your own tips for speaking in front of an audience?

Earlier: Tips for Public Speaking (without the Flop Sweat)

Resources

The Speech Preparation Series
by Andrew Dlugan
Six Minutes, Feb. 27, 2008

10 Tips for Public Speaking
Toastmasters International

10 Biggest Public Speaking Mistakes
Toastmasters International

Before you Open your Mouth: The Keys to Great Public Speaking
by Nick Morgan
ChangeThis, May 6, 2009

Public Speaking Secrets – What You Need to Know
StageCalm

Stop Rehearsing! 3 Critical Things to Do Before Your Speech
by Andrew Dlugan
Six Minutes, April 21, 2008

The Habit of Courage
Toastmasters International

Public Speaking Survival Tips: What You Need to Know to Make it Through
StageCalm

The 25 Essential Presentation Skills for Public Speaking
by Andrew Dlugan
Six Minutes, Oct. 31, 2007