Public speaking can *really* hard, especially if you struggle with social anxiety or if you don’t have a lot of experience talking in front of groups. Research suggests that 61% of university students in the U.S. have a fear of public speaking. Fortunately, many strategies can help you build your confidence and strengthen your public speaking skills.
Public speaking tips for students aim to reduce anxiety that can interfere with giving presentations or speeches in class. These tips aren’t just helpful for speaking in front of a big group. If you have social anxiety disorder (SAD), these strategies can also help you feel more comfortable speaking in front of a group or telling a story among friends.
At a Glance
If you have social anxiety and need to give a speech in elementary school, high school, college, or university, it helps to be as prepared as possible. Beyond preparation, however, there are strategies that you can use to reduce anxiety…without feeling like the urge to fake an illness so you can stay home and skip it.
Practice, preparation, and relaxation strategies are essential for students dealing with anxiety about public speaking. It’s also important to maintain perspective; remember, other people get nervous, too! As you practice, you’ll start to feel more confident about talking in front of groups, which will help you present your best self with a lot less anxiety.
Practice Your Public Speaking
Even skilled speakers practice their speeches ahead of time. Practice speaking out loud using a recording device or video camera, then watch the recording to identify areas for improvement. If you feel comfortable, practice in front of a friend or family member and ask for feedback.
Research has even shown that imaginary practice can be an effective way to combat feelings of public speaking anxiety.
Talk About What You Know
If possible, choose a speech or presentation topic you know well and enjoy. Your audience will sense your passion, and you will feel less anxious knowing you have the experience to answer questions.
Talking about things you are knowledgeable about can help you feel more confident and comfortable when you are speaking in public.
Concentrate on Your Message
By focusing on the task at hand, you can better manage anxiety. Concentrate on your speech’s main message and aim to effectively communicate this to your classmates.
Grab the Audience’s Attention
Most of your fellow classmates will pay attention for at least the first 20 seconds; grab their attention during those early moments. Start with an interesting fact or a story that relates to your topic. Other ways you can generate interest include:
- Asking rhetorical questions
- Inspiring emotion
- Generating curiosity
- Relating an interesting historical event
Have One Main Message
Focus on one central theme, and your classmates will learn more. Tie different parts of your talk to the main theme to support your overall message. Trying to cover too much ground can leave other students (and you) feeling overwhelmed.
Tell Stories
Stories catch the attention of other students and deliver a message in a more meaningful way than facts and figures. Whenever possible, use a story to illustrate a point in your talk.
Preparation Can Reduce Public Speaking Anxiety
Being prepared to speak in public can also be important if you have social anxiety disorder. Confidence and preparation may help reduce anxiety. To prepare effectively, try the following:
Visit the Room
If you have access to the classroom where you will be speaking outside of class hours, take the time to visit in advance and get used to standing at the front of the room. Make arrangements for any audio-visual equipment and practice standing in the exact spot where you will deliver your speech.
Unfamiliarity can often make social anxiety worse. By making yourself more comfortable with the setting and room where you’ll be delivering your speech, you’ll feel much more at ease.
Rack Up Experience
Volunteer to speak in front of your class as often as possible. Be the first one to raise your hand when a question is asked. Your confidence will grow with every public speaking experience.
Researchers have found that practicing in a virtual format can also be helpful. You might try out virtual experiences that allow you to practice in front of a supportive audience or invite friends and family to watch you practice your presentation in person or through video conferencing.
Observe Other Speakers
Take the time to watch other speakers who are good at what they do. Practice imitating their style and confidence. Consider attending local events or presentations at your school. Watching TED Talks or speeches on YouTube can also be helpful.
Organize Your Talk
Every speech should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Structure your talk so that the other students know what to expect. Then write it down on notecards and spend time practicing what you will say.
Use Relaxation Strategies to Manage Anxiety
Taking steps to deal with your feelings of anxiety can also make public speaking easier. Fortunately, there are a lot of anxiety-fighting relaxation strategies that can help calm your mind and body.
It’s a good idea to practice relaxation strategies before you give your speech. The more you practice them, the better you’ll be able to use them when they are needed.
Some other things that you can do:
Tell Someone About Your Anxiety
If you are speaking in front of a high school or college class, meet with your teacher or professor and describe your public speaking fears. If you’re in elementary or high school, share your fears with your parents, a teacher, or a guidance counselor.
Sometimes sharing how you feel can make it easier to overcome stage fright.
Visualize Confidence
Visualize yourself confidently delivering your speech, feeling free of anxiety, and engaging the students in your class. Although this may seem like a stretch for you now, visualization is a powerful tool for changing the way you feel.
Elite athletes use this strategy to improve their performance in competitions, and research has shown that it can be a helpful tool for combatting speech anxiety.
Proven Anxiety-Busters
Relaxation strategies can be super helpful for fighting speech anxiety. Some that you might try include:
Find a Friendly Face
If you are feeling anxious, find one of your friends in class (or someone who seems friendly) and imagine that you are speaking only to that person.
Press Play for Advice on Finding Courage
Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares a strategy to help you find courage when you need it the most.
Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts
Maintain Perspective
Remember that other students are on your side. Think about a time when you have been an audience member and the student delivering the speech or presentation was noticeably nervous. Did you think less of that student? More likely, you felt sympathetic and wanted to make that person more comfortable by smiling or nodding.
Remember—other students generally want you to succeed and feel comfortable. If, for some reason, the audience is not on your side or you experience bullying or social exclusion, be sure to discuss this with a parent, teacher, or guidance counselor.
Be Confident When Speaking
Sometimes just knowing what makes a good speech can help you feel more confident. Focus on some of the following elements and practice them before you have to speak in public.
Develop Your Own Style
In addition to imitating good speakers, work on developing your own personal style as a public speaker. Integrate your own personality into your speaking style and you will feel more comfortable in front of the class. Telling personal stories that tie into your theme are a great way to let other students get to know you better.
Avoid Filler Words
Words such as “basically,” “well,” and “um” don’t add anything to your speech. Practice being silent when you feel the urge to use one of these words.
Vary Your Tone, Volume, and Speed
Interesting speakers vary the pitch (high versus low), volume (loud versus soft), and speed (fast versus slow) of their words. Doing so keeps your classmates interested and engaged in what you say.
Make the Audience Laugh
Laughter is a great way to relax both you and the other students in your class, and telling jokes can be a great icebreaker at the beginning of a speech. Practice the timing and delivery of your jokes beforehand and ask a friend for feedback. Be sure that they are appropriate for your class before you begin.
Smile
If all else fails, smile. Your fellow classmates will perceive you like a warm speaker and be more receptive to what you have to say.
Don’t Apologize
If you make a mistake, don’t offer apologies. Chances are that your classmates didn’t notice anyway. Unless you need to correct a fact or figure, there is no point dwelling on errors that probably only you noticed.
If you make a mistake because your hands or shaking, or something similar, try to make light of the situation by saying something like, “I wasn’t this nervous when I woke up this morning!” This can help to break the tension of the moment.
Takeaways
It’s natural to feel frightened the first time you have to speak in front of your class. However, if you fear continues, interferes with your daily life and keeps you awake at night, it may be helpful to see someone about your anxiety.
Try talking to a parent, teacher, or counselor about how you have been feeling. If that doesn’t get you anywhere, ask to make an appointment with your doctor. Severe public speaking anxiety is a true disorder that can improve with treatment.
