Written by Jason Stansell

The first thing to remember about giving a speech is that nerves are to be expected and are absolutely normal. In fact, all other speakers there feel just as nervous, and likely so do/does the judge(s). Everyone handles those butterflies in the stomach differently. But the nerves are still there.

You likely won’t overcome nervousness overnight, but you can plan for your nerves and incorporate your feelings into your speech. Afterall, the best speeches are those that are authentic! Here are some examples for how you might transform your particular nervous responses into genuine, personalized speaking quirks:

If nerves make you energetic and fidgety — Try using that energy to “own the stage” with focused and deliberate movements. If you find you talk with your hands far more than you want to, holding them behind your back during serious, but not intense, moments can seem very deliberate and focused, giving an air of confidence.

Some people try to ignore their nerves — These individuals typically pretend as if they are giving the speech while pretending to be someone else. A lot of people with theatre experience tend to take this route, as by doing so, it’s not them giving the speech, it is the character they created and are performing as who is confident in their piece.

Some get more intense, almost angry — Guess what? Passionate speakers often seem angry. If your nerves do this to you, find the spots in your speech that are passionate,and lean into that fierce feeling in those moments. By allowing those moments to come through, you’re not only giving yourself permission to show those moments, but also permission to pull back on them. Sure, intensity might seem more appropriate when giving a speech about inequality in the prison systems than it would a speech about cheesecake. However, you could easily bring up making a mess, or being careful not to burn yourself while taking a cheesecake out of the oven. Describing those moments would be a perfect time to use such intensity. 

Some let the nervousness show — Some people cannot help but to just seem nervous. However, that’s something you can work with too. When you’re up there and your nerves show, you’re vulnerable and honest. So, best to just use that in your delivery. Lean into that honest nervousness to help lend a feeling of sincerity into your words.

The giggles can sometimes be irrepressible— Many people giggle a lot when nervous. If you know that you have this problem, it can be a bit difficult to work them into a serious issue, such as inequality in the prison systems. However, you can still make it work with something serious too. Try focusing more on the absurdity of the problems, thus your giggles can appear as stress laughter about the topic you’re discussing, as opposed to stress laughter about speaking.

These are just a handful of nervous responses and your specific response will be unique to you. Find what works best with your nerves for you.There are several other possibilities that you may find that suits you. Don’t be afraid to explore and discover what works best for you.

Finally, don’t forget to breathe. This isn’t just about trying to calm yourself, though that is sage advice. Actually stopping to breathe can help you pace yourself, time your beats, and allow the audience or judge to absorb what you just said. All while allowing you to focus some of the nervous feelings you’re bound to experience.

Whether you’ve given one speech or ten, nerves are completely normal. There’s no instant cure, but there are strategies to help you adapt and push through. Feeling nervous just means you care about your speech—and that’s a good thing!