According to the National Social Anxiety Center (NSAC), “the fear of public speaking is the most common phobia. It’s even more common than the fear of death.” That means that when someone says they would rather die than speak in public, they are likely telling the truth. At least statistically speaking.

Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking. Many new speakers, and even some experienced ones, feel it. They feel it when they’ve been tasked with presenting to an audience.

Overcoming the fear of public speaking is a common challenge. But it can be managed with several strategies. Here are some of the more effective approaches.

Preparation and Practice

• Know Your Material: Be thoroughly familiar with your content. This helps build confidence as you won’t be worried about forgetting what to say. I have coached many a nervous presenter and have told them all the same thing: if you know what you’re talking about, then you have no reason to be worried. If you don’t know what you’re talking about, then you have no reason to be talking.

• Rehearse: Practice your talk multiple times. Rehearse in front of a mirror, record yourself, or present to friends and family. But, and this is key, never, never, never memorize your presentation. There are too many things that can interrupt your concentration during a presentation. If you’re working off a memorized script, that interruption most often leads to doom.

Develop a Routine

• Pre-Talk Rituals: Develop a routine that calms you, such as deep breathing, meditation, or light stretching. My own routine is pretty simple, slam a Diet Coke and enjoy the awesome people you’re about to connect with.

• Arrive Early: Familiarize yourself with the venue and technology to reduce last-minute stress. Running in at the last minute is never a good idea. Even if you’re an experienced presenter, showing up at the last minute will screw up the flow of your presentation, at least for the critical first few minutes.

Positive Thinking

• Shift Focus: Concentrate on delivering value to your audience rather than on your performance. This helps take the pressure off yourself. People have asked me how I can charge so much for a presentation. I just let them know I charge for the value I’m certain I’ll leave behind. While I can’t guarantee their teams will always use the value, I can guarantee the value will be there.

• Affirmations: Use positive affirmations to boost your confidence. Remind yourself that you are prepared and capable. If you’re preparing for your second presentation just remind yourself you didn’t die the first time so the odds are, you won’t die this time either.

Learn and Improve

• Seek Feedback: After your talk, ask for constructive feedback to learn what worked and what can be improved. Be open-minded here. Even if the feedback was hurtful and meant to be harsh. You can still use it to see if it shows a path to improvement.

• Join Public Speaking Groups: Consider joining groups like Toastmasters, where you can practice speaking in a supportive environment.

Understand Your Audience

• Know Your Audience: Understand the needs and expectations of your audience. This helps tailor your talk and reduces anxiety about their reaction. Never do a “cold” presentation, the more you know about the people you’re speaking with, the “warmer” your audience will be right from the start.

• Engage with the Audience: Start with a question, a story, or an interesting fact to engage your audience and make the experience more interactive. And don’t wait for the presentation to begin, engage your audience before you begin by introducing yourself to as many people in the audience as possible as they enter the room. This allows you to use a few of their names during your presentation and creates an instant connection with the entire audience.

Incremental Exposure

• Start Small: Begin by speaking in smaller, less intimidating settings and gradually move to larger audiences. There are like a gazillion groups, Chambers of Commerce, Rotarians, and tons of other service organizations that are always looking for speakers. These kinds of meetings provide excellent opportunities for “live” practice. And I can’t recall a single news story about a speaker being killed because their presentation to a group of Rotarians sucked. Of course, it helps that Rotarians are nice people.

• Expand Your Comfort Zone: Regularly challenge yourself to speak in front of new groups to build resilience and confidence over time. The more often you speak to groups, the more often you’ll look forward to speaking in front of groups. The more you look forward to speaking in front of groups, the more likely you are to be asked to speak. It’s a momentum that can even lead to a speaking career.

Professional Help

• Training Courses: Enroll in public speaking courses or workshops to gain professional guidance and tips. Many of you know I was with the Dale Carnegie Organization for several years early in my career. I saw many people change from a shy, very uncomfortable presenter to a dynamic communicator. They could speak well one-on-one and to groups of almost any size. I have nothing to gain from recommending a Dale Carnegie speaking course. I would only gain the pleasure of knowing that I helped someone beat their fear of speaking in front of groups. I highly recommend Dale Carnegie Training to this day.

I have done literally thousands of presentations over the years. To small groups on a beach in Hawaii to huge crowds in an NFL stadium. I’ve had every experience possible happen while speaking in front of groups. Today, it’s as easy and enjoyable as anything I do.

While you may find it hard to believe, by combining these strategies, it can be that easy for you as well. Yes, you! You can gradually overcome your fear of public speaking and become a more confident and effective speaker.