Many college students fear public speaking more than falling into a snake pit, being attacked by an alligator, or swimming with sharks. One morning, a frustrated student stopped by my office. He was majoring in engineering and had been earning his degree for over 6 years. He shared a story of trying to take the public speaking course multiple times and being overwhelmed with fear of giving a speech in front of a student audience. He decided that the course he was teaching was his last chance. After experiencing several failures, he made the decision to give up his engineering career if he didn’t pass my public speaking class. I told him that success in my course was possible. I also informed him that the anxiety that accompanies giving a speech cannot be eliminated. I further explained that there are several ways to handle public speaking anxiety.

There are many ways to handle the fear of delivering a speech. Here is my list of the top 10 suggestions:

1. Try the power pose. Before your presentation, find a private place and stand in a powerful posture. For example, think of the pose used by Wonder Woman or Superman. Researchers of powerful poses indicate that standing for a few minutes with a powerful pose will leave you more confident when it comes time to speak.

2. Take a few minutes to locate the room where you are speaking, check the lighting and technology. Fear of the unknown increases anxiety. I remember attending a convention at a large Detroit hotel. In the evening I visited the room where I was presenting the next day. I also saw other presenters checking their presentation rooms. I felt more comfortable the next day because I was familiar with the environment and technology in the room.

3. Get some exercise. Medical research shows the value of daily exercise in reducing anxiety. On the day of your presentation, take a brisk walk or do some exercises to help you relax. But don’t overdo it. You don’t want to appear to your audience that you just finished a marathon.

4. Avoid caffeine. Energy drinks, coffee, and too much dark chocolate for some speakers will increase their anxiety. Nervous gestures, voice, and problems with your contour can be the result of too much caffeine in your diet.

5. Take a few deep breaths. Breathing deeply will reduce your pulse rate. Taking some deep breaks before the presentation will help you relax.

6. Keep breathing. Emergency specialists say that many trauma victims stop breathing regularly. They often tell the victim to focus on their breathing and return to a regular breathing pattern. If your speech is a traumatic experience for you, then it is important to think about your breathing patterns.

7. Pause for a minute. Professional speakers use this technique. It’s okay to pause for a minute or two before beginning your speech. It’s a great way to focus your mind on the outline of the speech and get away from your anxious feelings.

8. Use positive affirmations. Our minds function like a stage. You cannot have positive and negative thoughts on the stage of your mind at the same time. Negative thoughts will push positive ones off stage. Think positive thoughts. Imagine your audience giving you a standing ovation at the end of your presentation.

9. View enriching images. Recent research indicates that viewing positive, loving and caring images will boost your confidence and reduce anxiety. Find a photo of a family member or friend, or of your dog or cat. Concentrate on the pictures for a couple of minutes and watch your anxiety disappear when you speak.

10. Practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more. Practice is the best way to control your anxiety. Professional speakers rehearse their speeches 10 to 12 times.

Public speaking anxiety is a way of life for many presenters. Learn to channel anxiety into energy in your presentation. The next time you have speech anxiety, think of the many ways you can control that anxiety and deliver a great speech.