At the very top of the list of the human race’s greatest fears is public speaking. Whether it's forgetting your lines or realizing you have a tail of toilet paper hanging out of your pants, fear of public speaking really boils down to fear of being ridiculed, rejected, and publicly humiliated. But don't worry — with the following tips, you'll be fine!

1. Watch the Masters: If you've got an officer speech, presentation or conference in your future, start looking for what makes successful public speakers so successful. Note their styles and habits and keep them in mind as good examples.

2. Fix Up, Look Sharp: As officers, you're in a position where public speaking is required. Let's hope you've already got a handle on the importance of personal grooming and hopefully a HOSA uniform. If not, take heed: The better you look, the more ready and professional you'll feel. A lot of people look up to you — make sure you look your best.

3. Hello Room, Nice to Meet You: If at all possible, check the specs of the room where you'll be speaking. Is it a classroom, gymnasium or conference room? What about the sound system? If you'll be using a microphone, it's a good idea to test it beforehand. The more familiar you are with your environment, the more comfortable you will be at the podium.

4. Know Your Material: Winging it is not a good idea when you've got a speech to make. While going with the flow and being flexible is smart, trusting yourself to be brilliant without any preparation is something even the pros don't attempt. Do your research. Know your topic, what you're going to say, and how you'd like to say it. The more you know, the more confident you'll be when speaking.

5. Practice, Practice, Practice: Once you are prepared, go through the speech. Then read it again. Then again. And then once more. Practice in front of a mirror. Practice to your dog. Grab a friend or family member and practice in front of a real human being. Every time you go through your presentation, you're adding another layer of "I know my information."

6. Visualize Yourself Being Fabulous: Negative thinking will get you nowhere but down in the dumps. If you believe that you'll be great, you will be. If you think you're going to fail, you probably will.

7. Know Your Audience: To whom are you speaking? If they're fellow members, they probably want to learn something from you. If they're classmates, they're likely looking to be entertained. If it's an officer candidate speech, the voting delegates need to be convinced. Know your audience, tailor your speech and delivery to them. Give them what they want!

8. Relax: We're usually our own worst critics. If you forget to read a sentence off your notes, it's doubtful anyone will know. If you skip forward to the next image on the projector by mistake, no one's going to be critical. Don't worry. It's not life or death; it's a speech.

9. Don't Give It Away: If it really, truly makes you feel better to announce to the room that you're so nervous before you begin, go ahead. However, your speech will have a lot more weight if you don't. Chances are good that you're the only one who knows you're shaking in your boots — why let them know? Let them believe you have it under control, even if you don't feel like you do.

10. Slow Your Roll: One of the biggest indicators of nervousness is the lightning-fast talker. You might have the best speech ever written, but if no one can understand what you're saying, it doesn't matter. Pace yourself and remember to speak at a normal (or even slightly slower) pace when you're speaking publicly.

11. The Eyes Have It: People trust people who look them in the eye, so look at your audience when you're speaking to them. Don't look at the floor — there's nothing down there. Don't look solely at your notes — the audience will think you haven't prepared. You appear more confident when your head is up, which puts your audience at ease and allows you to take command of the room.

12. Go On, Be Funny: Who doesn't like to laugh a little? You don't have to be a comedian, but a few lighthearted comments can help humanize you to your audience. Win them over with a smile and a well-timed clever remark, if you can. Be advised, too many jokes can weaken the validity of a presentation.

13. Your Errors Are Okay: So you tripped on the microphone cord. So what? So you said macro when you meant micro somewhere in your speech — so what! Everyone makes mistakes. Acknowledge them and move on.

14. Keep It Short, Please: Even the President's State of the Union Address is only around an hour. Know what's expected of you and deliver that — and no more. We've all been tortured by a speaker who goes on and on, caring little for the audience's interest or comfort level. Don't be one of those speakers — always leave them wanting more.

15. It's SO Not About You: The more you can take the focus off yourself, the better. After all, it's not likely you're being asked to give a presentation of your life story. So concentrate on the message and find freedom in just presenting the message.

16. Fake It 'Til You Make It: The old saying "fake it 'til you make it" is actually pretty good advice. Even if you have zero confidence in yourself, try acting like you do. The longer you fake it, the more comfortable it will feel, until, voilà, you're a bona fide confidence machine.

17. Be Yourself: We're all human. We're all a little afraid of the podium, the microphone, or the conference room. Despite what you may believe, the members don't want you to fail. They ultimately want to see you succeed. Give them what they want by just being the best you can be.

 

Here is an example of a great speech delivered by Ashton Kutcher at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards. Note that he begins with humor. He doesn't use note cards bringing an elevated level of sincerity. He clearly knows his audience and makes the speech about them, not him.