The majority of Americans are more afraid of public speaking than of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. Glossophobia is a medical term for stage fright and based on many research 28.4% of adults in the U.S. have some type of stage fright. Meanwhile, 19.7% of Americans are afraid of volcanoes, and zombies scare 8.5% of them, so do the math and make a comparison. Even though public speaking causes terror in many people, it’s an essential quality for potential entrepreneurs and business owners. They must be able to present their brand, spike the imagination, and close a deal. So, here are top five secrets from professional speakers which may help you.

Speak from the heart

Being personal and telling your experience is the best way to get through the audience and inspire them to trust you. It is easy to remember your own stories because you can repeat the truth thousand times, but never lie. When you are performing in front of a large audience, try to avoid complicated words. Otherwise, you will lose them. Bring your own personal stories, experiences, and skills, be persuasive as you can and passionate about the things you are speaking. Your devotion and eagerness are the best sales tools.

Imagine yourself as a winner

Many people mentally prepare before they come out on the stage. One of the critical factors of this preparation is to start as soon as your speaking engagement is ready. Visualizing the event, the audience, and the atmosphere contributes significantly to your self-esteem and confidence.

Don’t forget to breathe

Being aware of your breathing gives you control over your nerves. Before and during every presentation take a couple of deep breathes, it will calm your nerves and provide strength to your voice. Deep breathing will also keep your voice centered and focused, and this will prevent dangerous uptalks which can decrease your credibility and confidence. Famous Business Speaker, Bruce Turkel, often points out breathing as the simplest, but the most effective technique for public speaking.

Don’t practice in a casual environment

When making a simulation of your presentation, don’t practice in your pajamas. You need to create performance-like pressure like you are standing in front of the audience. In this case, rehearsal is the work while performance is the play. There are neurological processes that happen when your practice. You’re transforming your ideas into words, the same thing as teaching your fingers to play a new instrument.

Don’t rely on a talent

Public speaking is a skill, despite the widespread belief. Don’t assume that people are born as public speakers. You need to realize that this a learnable skill for promoting your business to investors and potential clients. Invest some time into practice and get feedback from co-workers and friends. They will provide you an honest opening and help you improve your speaking skills further. You are required to be the face of your business, and you can’t hire someone to perform this job.