When it comes to public speaking, do you welcome the opportunity or do you run for cover? Do you accept each chance presented or do you make up a long list of reasons to be excused from the task? If you answered NO to these questions, it is important for you to read this because public speaking presents some very positive development opportunities for you and there are things you can do to overcome your fears of public speaking.

So what can you do if you do fear public speaking? Here are ten (10) strategic tips to overcome that fear and make public speaking easy.

#1: Develop a game plan for your public speaking assignment. Decide what positive outcomes you want to achieve. Visualize your successful presentation.

#2: Know the room where you will be speaking. Become familiar with the physical features, the mike, the seating, the staff, etc.

#3: Make sure you are energized and focused on your speaking engagement as you enter the room. Taking deep breaths can help to calm nervousness.

#4: Develop an attitude that your speaking engagement is a conversation with your audience, that makes it more personal.

#5: Avoid standing behind a podium when speaking because it disconnects you from your audience. Stand to the side of the podium or wander the room or stage when speaking.

#6: Make sure you know your audience by researching who will be there while preparing for your public speaking appearance.

#7: Make direct eye contact with individuals in the audience. Again, this increases your connection with your audience.

# 8: Be positive about questions and if you don't know the answer to a question, admit it and do not try to fake an answer. Not knowing an answer gives you an opportunity to confer with others and then get back to your audience later with an answer.

#9: Learn by doing. Take advantage of public speaking opportunities to improve your performance by accepting public speaking engagements. The additional experience will help build your confidence.

#10: Work with a coach to improve your public speaking skills.

If you want to learn more about public speaking as a strategic communication and marketing opportunity and how you can overcome your fears of public speaking and improve your public speaking skills, please contact Glenn Ebersole through his website at http://www.businesscoach4u.com/ or by email at jgecoach@aol.com

Author's Bio: 

J. Glenn Ebersole, Jr. is a multi-faceted professional, who is recognized as a visionary, guide and facilitator in the fields of business coaching, marketing, public relations, management, strategic planning and engineering. Glenn is the Founder and Chief Executive of two Lancaster, PA based consulting practices: The Renaissance Group, a creative marketing, public relations, strategic planning and business development consulting firm and J. G. Ebersole Associates, an independent professional engineering, marketing, and management consulting firm. He is a Certified Facilitator and serves as a business coach and a strategic planning facilitator and consultant to a diverse list of clients. Glenn is also the author of a monthly newsletter, “Glenn’s Guiding Lines – Thoughts From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” and has published more than 275 articles on business.