Views of the art of public speaking. Why do I have a fear of public speaking?

Research your topic in detail

Whether you know a lot about the topic you’re talking about or it’s new to you, make sure you do the research. It’s good to have some facts and evidence about the topic in order to make you sound trustworthy and knowledgeable, but don’t overdo it.

 If you truly understand your topic, you won’t need to completely memorise a speech, and you’ll be able to improvise if you need to.

Know your message

In the planning stage, you should ask yourself, why are you giving this presentation? What is the true purpose or message? Your idea should take centre stage, and you are merely the platform presenting that idea to an audience.

 In some cases, you might be making a speech because you want to enact change. If so, have it in your head exactly what you want to happen after people hear your speech, and try to get that across. Whether you want to encourage deep communication in education, or improve public engagement with science, make sure you speak with intention.