While feeling nervous before a speech to some extent is a
good thing - it will give you an adrenaline rush and keep
your blood pumping.

If you feel your nerves getting out of hand, here are two
great tips to help relax you and put you in a state to
deliver a fantastic speech.

1. Visualisation

This is best done before you go to sleep and as you wake up
in the mornings. At those "half-asleep" times your brain
waves will allow your visualisations to powerfully
re-program your subconcious. In the days running up to
your speech or presentation, close your eyes and see
yourself in your mind's eye, at the podium. Picture
yourself as you would like the presentaion to go. See
yourself looking relaxed and happy and totally at ease.
Run through your speech.

Make your vision as bright and vivid as You can. The more
vivid and colourful the image, the more your subconcious
will believe the image to be "true" and will make your
vision come about in real life. (Top athletes use this
technique in the run up to an important sports event). So
take some time to create a full image, see the venue, the
stage, the audience.

Bring sound into your vision - hear yourself talking
clearly and articulately. See your audience responding
well to your speech, listening closely. Hear the audience
clapping and see them smiling and happy in response to your
speech.

This technique really works, and if you visualise several
times a day in the run up to your speech, you will feel
much more prepared and therefore relaxed.

2. Affirmations

Affirmations are strong, positive statements that you say
to yourself over and over again until all negative feelings
like fear and stress disappear and relaxation takes over
your body. This is very powerful technique that can
quickly change your mental state. Luckily it can be done
anytime, anywhere. Again, try these affirmations in the
days running up to your speech.

Choose a positive statement, such as "I am well-known for
my powerful and insightful speeches". Repeat this to
yourself ten times and see how you feel afterwards. Some
people like to say them out loud in front of a mirror.

The amazing thing abaout affirmations is that you don't
even have to believe the statement for it to have a
positive effect. And the truth is that if you say
affirmations often enough you will eventually start to
believe them anyway!

Use these two tips on public speaking in the days before
your speech and I guarantee you will feel more relaxed and
ready to deliver a great presentation than ever.