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Make a list of your fears. Eliminate the unrealistic fears.
  1. •Recognize that anxiety exists and label your fears
  2. •Become familiar with your audience
  3. •Remember this is just a speech; you are a full person beyond this role as speaker
  4.  
Here is a list of common fears that might help you identify yours (from chattanoogastate.edu):
  1. •What if they’re not interested in what I have to say?
  2. •I wish I had practiced (or prepared) more.
  3. •They’re going to see that my hands (or knees) are shaking.
  4. •I’m afraid I’ll forget something or my mind will go blank.
  5. •Everyone else will do better than me.
  6. •My heart is pounding so loud I know everyone can hear it.
  7. •What if I really mess up in front of these people I have to be with for the rest of the semester?
  8. •Do I know what I’m talking about?
  9. •How can I get out of this?
  10. •It seems like I can’t get enough air.
  11. •I hate giving speeches.
  12. •How can I make them understand me?
  13. •I’m going to sound stupid.
  14. •I’ve got to get an A (or pass or get a good grade)
  15. •I know I’m going to talk too fast.
  16. •My stomach doesn’t feel so good.
  17. •I’m no good at this. I can’t do this.
  18. •I don’t know how to begin.
  19. •I think I’m going to faint.
  20. •People will laugh or think less of me if I mess up.
 
Many of these fears develop from negative thinking. If you work through the worst case scenario, you can realize that the fear is unrealistic. If you drop your cards, you can pick them up, if you stumble over your words, you probably noticed more than anyone else in the audience. Here are some other positive thoughts you can use to counter your fears:
  1. •No audience is as aware of your nervousness as much as you are
  2. •Most of the time people don’t notice your little mistakes as much as you do
  3. •Public speaking is a skill, if you follow the process, you can do it
  4. •No one can give a perfect speech
  5. •Everyone experiences some nervousness before giving a speech
  6. •Just because you’re nervous doesn’t mean you can’t give a good speech
  7. •A few mistakes will not ruin your speech
  8. •The audience can benefit from what you have to share
  9. •You have done the best you can to prepare for this speech
  10. •Even if you make a mistake, you can learn from it and improve next time
  11. •The audience knows how you feel and is rooting for you
  12. •You talk to people all day long; this kind of speaking is not that different
  13. •The world will not end, even if you really mess up