This page was written by Alan Shalloway as an attempt to make it easier for others to learn how to speak more easily in front of others.

Being a good speaker is a skill that can be learned.  I remember when I started learning how to speak in front of groups.  I had always been good in talking to groups of 3-5 people.  But put me in a room in front of 10 or more and it was fairly nerve wracking. I've heard it said that speaking in front of a group of people is more terrifying than dying to many people.

How did I make this transition?

Pretty much the same way you get to Carnegie Hall - practice, practice, practice!

I remember giving one talk in front of about 20 people.  This was mostly a status report.  After the talk started I was overcome with fear. Fortunately I knew that the best way to get through the fear was to just experience for a few seconds.  When you do this it tends to go away quickly.  Taking a deep breath also helps.  I think this was the start for me.  Noticing that I wanted to be able to speak in front of a group and noticing that I was very afraid to do so.  

The thing I found that was very helpful was, no not imagining they were all in their underwear (does anybody really do that?).  It was remembering that everyone in the room wanted me to do well.  They were not my enemies, they were my friends. This meant any fear I felt was not real.  Rather it was False Event Appearing Real (F.E.A.R.).  That kind of fear is best dealt with by remembing it isn't real.

There were two tangible things I did to eventually overcome my fears.  The first was read a book by Dale Carnegie called How to Win Friends and Inflence People.  This is a classic, of course, but still a good one.  The second thing was to realize that fear is also physiological and could therefore be dealt with that way.  Taking a deep breath is a good idea.  You won't be as afraid if you breath deeply. There is a technique to improve this.  It's basically this:

• curl your fingers and clasp them together like the way railroad cars couple.
• hold your hands just under the sternum with the thumb of your left hand (note, the thumb should be parallel with the other fingeres) pressing into the top of your belly (just under the sternum)
• exhale as long as you can while pushing in with your hands
• release the pressure and take a deep breath
• do this three times (or more)

This forces you to take deep breaths which calms you down.  The other thing I tended to do, was to get into the room before the talk and just sit down and breath calmly.  I'd watch people and smile at them (being nervous as hell under it all).  But watching them I'd calm down.

I googled to get a page of other good advice.  Here's one I liked.

One other thing. People tend to be nervous about being "found out." As humans, we sometimes think we have to be better than we are. If you put on airs it will be very difficult to speak without fear.  It's best just to be honest and yourself.  You don't have to be better than who you are.  People naturally pick up honesty - and like it.  So be honest.  If you are nervous, it's ok to say that.  Just don't go overboard and don't be demeaning of yourself.