In my last article, I discussed the single most important thing you should do to control your nervousness which I refer to as the physical. In addition, there are 4 other components of dynamic public speaking: 4 things that you can do to help take control of your fear and let it work for you, not against you.

Intellectual – Knowing Your Material. In all the years I've been teaching voice and presentation skills, I will never understand the number of people who admit that they are not or were not prepared. How can you not prepare in advance, knowing that you will be addressing a group of people? Knowing your material means practicing itout loud. There is no other way of doing it. Going over your script in your mind is not practicing. You must rehearse it over and over and over again until you know your material inside and out.

Social – Making Eye Contact. If you cannot look your audience in the eye, they will know your discomfort. Making eye contact means acknowledging the various sections of the room, from one side to the other – not just those in the middle seats. Staring at an object on the wall or looking somewhere above their heads in not contact. Trying treating your audience as if you were having a conversation in your living room. You will be amazed at how much better you feel!

Emotional – Speaking with Color. Color is the life, the emotion, the animation you display in your delivery. A great speech or presentation lacking in color is called boring. Be yourself in speaking and allow for your emotion to be heard as well as to be seen in your facial expression and in your body language.

Spiritual – Believing in Yourself. If you approach the lectern, the front of the room or the head of the conference table believing that you are going to fail, how successful do you think you will be? The one thing I do not want you to expect is perfection because that quality is not possible in a live performance. Perfection is subjective. What I may think is perfect may not be perfect in the eyes of someone else.

If you truly know your material, speakto your audience and not at them, allow for a colorful delivery and most importantly, breathe, I guarantee you will do an excellent job. And that is what you should strive to achieve.