Have to give a big presentation? Terrified of speaking in front of groups? These confidence-boosting tips will help soothe your public speaking fears and help you to get your point across effectively.

• Know your material. The more familiar you are with the subject, the less anxious you’ll feel when it comes time to step in front of a crowd.
• Keep notes short and concise. Writing a detailed script and following it exactly can lead you to speak in a stilted way. Instead, use concise notes to help jog your memory as you talk.
• Don’t apologize. If you feel like you sound nervous or you stumble over a word or two, don’t apologize; it’s likely that the crowd didn’t notice nearly as much as you did.
• Speak slowly. Even if if feels better to rush through your remarks, you should aim to speak slowly so that your audience can understand your words.

Public Speaking Tips [MIT]
18 Public Speaking Tips [HowStuffWorks]
10 Tips for Public Speaking [Toastmasters International]

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