Sooner or later we all get asked to get up in front of a group and speak. It might be a presentation at work, making announcement at a party or even a toast at a wedding.
It is important to realize that even the most experienced speakers get nervous. However, the better prepared you are and the more you do it the easier it gets.
Look at your audience as if they are one person. Talk to them personally. Take 3 seconds segments and talk directly with eye contact to one person only. It will create a unique experience to everyone: first, that person will feel important since there are 100 people around and you chose him; secondly, other people will tune in to listen even more carefuly because someone "was targeted".
Never memorize word by word. It's really easy to actually make the difference between a "Speech" and a "Recitation". And we won't need a speaker if we needed a "Recitation", we can just get the paper and read it. And people who do so usually gives me an impression that they don't really know what they're talking about, I mean, if it was written: "I'm a pig who will talk to you about how Martians travel...", maybe the speaker will recite it.
Make a more or less detailed outline of your speech, and know your text well. If you fear you might forget certain details or important elements, write them down in the appropriate spot on your outline, but keep everything simple.
For example:
1-Intro
2-Body
2.1 - Definition of...
2.2 - Statistic of...
3-Transition...
and on and on...
Hands can be very useful. You can actually associate certain passages of your speech to a certain pattern of gestures. That way, it can remind you, as you move your hands, about what to say. In addition, a speaker who can amplify his voice while moving his hands is far more interesting than one who sits there motionlessly.
The speed should be the one when you speak normally. I think you should make yourself sound as natural as possible, to really pull yourself closer to the audience. Once they and you are close, the words are a lot stronger. Speaking fast makes sure nobody understands, speaking slowly is boring. So just go with your natural speed. (If you naturally speak fast, try to slow down a little, and vice versa.) Occasionally, you can change the tone of your voice and speed to actually amplify your words, such as saying "IT'S COOL!" instead of "it's... cool....". Or use a higher voice when your words refer to something that is more intense.. and so and so...
People in the audience have some sort of anxiety too, not only you. When you sit in the audience, you wouldn't want the speaker to point at you and ask you strange questions, right? Especially if you're in the company of strangers.
Look at them in the eyes. The worst you can do is to gaze over at space as if they're not there. Look at one person for a couple of seconds, then turn and look at another.
Try to engage as many people as you can in the "dialog". You're the only one who's talking, but you can get some "aha" from members of the group. When you ask a question that you want a "yes" answer, nod your had as you finish the question... "so taking notes while you're listening to a lecture is basically a good idea, isn't it (nod)?"... that would engage them in a positive way because they won't have to "expose" themselves to others. They nod, you smile, you move on, they're "safe".
Don't move too much. Move, but not too much. Try to pick a "hot spot" on stage or somewhere in the room, where everyone can feel your presence. I've been in lectures where the speaker "disappeared", the audience lost interest. when you move, always remember to come back to your hot spot. Getting used to your hot spot before speaking would also make your performance better, because you're "at home".
One last thing, try to view your text as very interesting (as it is supposed to be). View this as you exposing or telling something really interesting to the public, it's more or less like asking a math teacher to talk about his or her favorite thing in math! It creates passion and interest to push the stress aside! Don't give the impression that you're there speaking because we forced you to be, or you're doing it just for thr sake of doing it. Reflect your personality in it.
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