Public speaking is something lots of people find terrifying. If this is one of your fears, do not worry. There are steps you can take to alleviate your fears. Think about these suggestions the next time you must speak in public for your job.

When speaking in public, make sure that what you have to say is engaging, otherwise you risk boring the crowd. Regardless of what you have to say, it will not go over well if it is boring. Practice your speech on people you know to see how the message you are giving is being received.

Use a timer when you practice so you can verify the length of your speech. That way, you can make edits to stay within the allotted time. If you find your speech is not long enough, research to find more information. Don’t rush when giving speeches.

Learn the material the best you can. Don’t just memorize words, understand facts and even have a relevant story or joke on hand. This will help you to engage the audience. Also, use them to answer questions and back up the substance of your speech.

The more public speaking you do, the more comfortable you will become. To help you gain the experience you need, offer to go to your local high school to share your knowledge with others. Most teachers are happy to have executives visit their class to give their students a chance to hear about different careers.

Do not indulge in alcoholic beverages prior to delivering your speech. Although it may seem like a good idea to help bolster your confidence, it is a bad idea. Nothing is worse than getting up on the platform and forgetting what you are going to say because you have imbibed in alcoholic beverages before your speech.

Practice your speech over and over until you can give it without looking at your notes. Practice in front of a mirror where you can try using various hand gestures and facial expressions to help make your points. Ask your friends and relations to listen to your speech and provide feedback. They can give you some pointers that you may not have noticed and help you improve.

If you will be speaking for a long time, be sure to have a glass of water handy on the podium. It is also a good idea to have a stool behind the podium so you can perch occasionally if you get too tired. Wear comfortable shoes so that you will be able to concentrate on your speech rather than your feet.

A great way to close your speech and have people remember it, is to have a good ending. You want the entire thing to be memorable, but chances are, your audience will best remember the last few things that you say. Do not end with something boring so you can stay memorable.

Reading these suggestions should give you some valuable tips on reducing your fears. Keep this article handy to use it when necessary. The more public speeches you deliver, the more confident you’ll become. So begin practicing right away!