Public Speaking: Not Worse Than Death

Start by giving toasts. Then captivate your book club. Soon, you'll be running for mayor.

• Anticipate your stage fright. The amount of nervousness you will feel is determined by the importance of an event's consequences and your level of confidence that you'll succeed, according to psychologist Mark Leary. By evaluating these two factors, you'll know how much to prepare and you'll be less surprised by your body's physiological arousal on the big day.
• Do a dress rehearsal. "Reviewing your notes isn't actually practicing," says California State University psychologist Peter Desberg. If the venue will be dark, have someone shine a light in your eyes while you speak. Wear the clothes you'll be wearing and learn to enjoy the adrenaline rush.
• Go for laughs. As you deliver important information, take breaks to entertain the audience with an anecdote or self-effacing joke. Desberg has noticed that the more humor he employs in class, the higher the ratings he receives on his end-of-semester evaluations.
• You're the one they need. If you notice the crowd waiting for you (even if it's only three people) and you get panicky, focus on how much they need to hear what you have to say. While you speak, if your pounding heart distracts you, practice grounding techniques like feeling your feet against the floor.
• Think big. Audiences know when you've chosen to play it safe. Instead, commit yourself to exciting, provocative ideas, making sure your listeners know what essential role they have to play. But don't go rampaging off onto another topic. You can only start one revolution at a time.