MBA2669 Q&A Wednesday: How Do I Not Get Nervous for a Public Speech?

What It Covers

Host Omar Zenholm answers his sister's question about overcoming public speaking anxiety through a seven-step preparation framework emphasizing extensive rehearsal and intentional stage presence techniques.

Key Questions Answered

• •Rehearsal frequency: Practice new talks 30 full times before delivery—five complete run-throughs daily for six consecutive days—to build genuine confidence through muscle memory and eliminate nervousness.
• •Slide design principle: Limit slides to 10 words maximum so audiences cannot extract full content without the presenter, ensuring slides supplement rather than replace the speaker's message and presence.
• •Eye contact technique: Speak directly to one person for one or two sentences before moving to another individual, creating intimate connections that calm nerves and make large audiences feel manageable.