Do you have glossophobia? Almost 75% of people experience some level of glossophobia during their lifetime. Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking. The uneasiness in your stomach right before a presentation could be a case of glossophobia. There are several serious cases of this phobia where your stage fear causes physical stress and intense anxiety at the mere thought of speaking in public. However, the fear of public speaking can be controlled by following certain simple steps. A lot of successful personalities once feared public speaking more than death itself. Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi were once terrified of speaking in front of a crowd. Both of them later became prolific orators. It is as clear as a blue sky that this awful fear can be put to an end. All you need to do is try some simple tips. Check it out:

1. Practice
The foremost thing is to practice what you need to say. Go through your speech over and over. Speak in front of a mirror or ask your close friends to listen to you. Gradually, your confidence will improve.

2. Understand the topic
If you are very well aware of your topic, it is always an advantage. You will clearly know your valid points and even if someone questions you, you will know how to respond. So, always understand everything there is to know about the topic.

3. The type of audience
Now, this is important. When you are presenting something to a crowd who does not know about your subject, talk briefly about the topic. But if it is experts looking at you, they wouldn’t want to hear the basics. You can straight away get into the core.

4. The size of the crowd
If you are talking in front of a small crowd, it is easier to engage. Asking them questions and a conversational approach might work out there. For a larger crowd, you don’t need to really engage with them by asking questions. Being relaxed and having eye contact with every section of the crowd is important here.

5. Never talk too fast
You might be in a rush to finish off your speech but if it needs to have an impact, you should not talk fast. Make that pauses, watch your audience and get them interested.

6. A good body language
When you give a speech, it is not just your words that give it meaning. The way you move, the way your hands move, the way you point your finger and even the tone of your voice plays a significant role. So, make good use of your body language.

7. Be optimistic and control your nerves
Even when you have mastered all the six tips given above, you might still feel your heart beating like a drum. To keep your nerves intact, do away with all the negative thoughts. Don’t think about all those things that might go wrong. Just think about the claps you are going to get after the speech.

Public speaking is as important as anything if you want a successful career. Billionaire Warren Buffet had clearly stated the significance of it. He had said, “You’ve got to be able to communicate in life and it’s enormously important. Schools, to some extent, underemphasize that. If you can’t communicate and talk to other people and get across your ideas, you’re giving up your potential.” Well, if you want to be like Warren Buffet, begin by polishing your public speaking skills. Start your work right now. Assess your skills and start writing aptitude tests like dSAT before it’s too late.