Here are some tricks that help to settle the nerves:
1. Before the event begins, survey the place where you are going to speak. Stand at the lectern and familiarize yourself.
2. Before the speech when the nerves are rising, remind yourself it is about the message, not about yourself. Whether people will like or not like your speech depends on how relevant your points are.
3. Start talking slowly. If you are nervous, the words will tend to come out far faster anyway. This compensates for it.
4. Start with a question, not a general one, like "is everyone having a good time?" but one that leads into the topic "How many of you experienced a server-crash during the peak season?". It gives the audience some time to think, and for you to calm down. In the meantime, while they think, lick your lips. Yes, lick your lips. Just try it now. It works really well because you trick your brain into thinking that you are in control of the situation.
1. Before the event begins, survey the place where you are going to speak. Stand at the lectern and familiarize yourself.
2. Before the speech when the nerves are rising, remind yourself it is about the message, not about yourself. Whether people will like or not like your speech depends on how relevant your points are.
3. Start talking slowly. If you are nervous, the words will tend to come out far faster anyway. This compensates for it.
4. Start with a question, not a general one, like "is everyone having a good time?" but one that leads into the topic "How many of you experienced a server-crash during the peak season?". It gives the audience some time to think, and for you to calm down. In the meantime, while they think, lick your lips. Yes, lick your lips. Just try it now. It works really well because you trick your brain into thinking that you are in control of the situation.