Read Time: 3 minutes

Does the thought of having to speak in front of others make your heart race? Do you get flustered just thinking about an upcoming presentation or interview?

If so, you're certainly not alone. Public speaking anxiety is one of the most common fears people have. But it doesn't have to cripple your confidence or hold you back from nailing your next speech or high-stakes scenario.

Over years of coaching and personal experience, I've developed 4 simple yet incredibly effective techniques to help conquer those pre-speaking jitters. With regular practice, you can train yourself to stay calm, focused, and confident when it matters most.

I highly recommend that you watch the video. Below is a quick summary:

Technique #1: Shift to a "Gift" Mindset (0:00 - 2:20)
Instead of viewing your talk or presentation as a daunting expectation you have to meet, reframe it as a gift you're giving your audience. Before speaking, write out this statement:

"I want my audience to feel [EMOTION] about [INFORMATION] in order to [TAKE ACTION]."

For example: "I want my audience to feel excited about my background in order to hire me for this job."

This mindset shift reminds you that it's not about performing for yourself, but rather inspiring a certain emotion and driving action from your listeners. It takes the pressure off you and allows you to focus on serving them.

Technique #2: Use the "And It's Alright" Technique (2:21 - 5:10)

Right before you start speaking, your adrenaline and nerves will spike. This is normal and natural. But if you let anxious thoughts spiral by saying "Oh no, I'm so nervous!" it will make you even more jittery.

Instead, disarm the negativity by looking your audience in the eyes, smiling, nodding your head slowly and simply saying to yourself "And it's alright."

This somatic feedback loop helps release tension from your body, allowing the adrenaline to pass through you rather than paralyzing you. Visualize and convince yourself that those nerves are perfectly alright.

Technique #3: Practice the E-I-E Breath Exercise (5:11 - 7:20)

Speaking from a place of calmness and confidence requires excellent breath control. Lack of air leads to wateriness in your voice and opportunities for your nerves to manifest.

The E-I-E exercise helps solve this:

1. Exhale as much air out of your lungs as physically possible, constricting your stomach.
2. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose, fully reinflating your lungs.
3. Exhale slowly through your mouth while speaking a simple sentence like "I'm excited to be here."

Repeat this cycle at least 3 times before speaking, ensuring your lungs are adequately filled with air and your nerves can't as easily hijack your voice control.

Technique #4: Do Warmup "Mm-ah" Vocal Exercises (7:21 - end) 

In addition to calming breathwork, it's helpful to warm up your vocal cords and mouth muscles to project with confidence.

Simply place your fingers gently on your throat and repeatedly make the sound "mm-aaaah", pushing the air outward while slightly opening your mouth wider on the "ah" portion. Doing this for 30-60 seconds can help relax any tension in your vocal tract.

With regular practice of these 4 techniques, that panicked, flustered feeling before speaking will gradually dissipate, replaced by a sense of composure and command.

But remember, staying calm beforehand is only part of the battle. You need to be concise and clear when you speak, especially when you’re not prepared, in order to command respect at work and grow your career. 

If you found this helpful, the Impromptu Speakers Academy is my 3-week bootcamp to help you become a clear and confident speaker at work. Reserve your spot today while they're still available.