Re: Fear of Public Speaking
Even the most practiced speakers have anxiety the first time they face a new audience, so there’s nothing wrong with that (did you read my last blog post 
) I’ve been a public speaker for more than 10 years now… you do get better over time.
Over the years, two things which I’ve noticed in all good presentations are a presenter’s handle on his/her specialty style and engagement method, and these you only realize over time.
e.g. are you good at being casual or formal – part of this is going to depend on the context of your presentation, but I’ve seen both styles work well even within similar circumstances. For me personally, I prefer being formal with bits of casual, spontaneous moments interspersed at regular intervals.
Secondly, what’s your modus oper-andi to engage your audience – some people use jokes, others do storytelling really well (think, Steve Jobs)… for me, it’s examples and demos which I enjoy showing, and the audience typically enjoys them while I show them. The engagement bit needs to be really something that you’re good at and you enjoy doing – your audience will typically catch on that vibe and get immersed in that experience with you.
I’m not saying that it’s just these two things, but these two things are a good start. Include these criteria while you think about the key ingredients of your presentation, and complete this thought exercise ahead of time to devise your agenda. However, like someone said, don’t overdo the planning… sometimes it can make you nervous if you have to improvise. You should always leave opportunities for spontaneity. I’m awful when it comes to rehearsing ahead of time… I almost never do it, and I work best if I’m doing my preps until the last minute. Different strokes for different folks - really.