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According to the book of lists, the fear of speaking in public is the #1 fear of all fears. (The fear of dying is #7!) Almost everyone feels nervous when giving a presentation or speaking in public so if you feel nervous, it is perfectly natural and understandable. If you have prepared and rehearsed well, you will have done a great deal already to reduce nervousness.
* If you think your hands might shake, it's another good reason to use cards instead of paper for your notes. A4 sheets held between two shaking hands will draw your own and everyone else's attention to the fact that you are nervous and will distract from the content of your talk.
* Know the room and know the equipment. Something unexpected could cause you to fluster.
* Take some deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth, half a dozen times before you start.
* On the day, arrive early and greet people as they walk in and have a chat. This breaks the ice and creates a nice relaxed atmosphere.
* If you are feeling nervous, don't call attention to it. Your audience probably won't even notice.
* In the weeks/days leading up to your presentation, do some positive visualisation. Sitting quietly or lying in bed, imagine yourself standing in front of the group, feeling very calm and relaxed, speaking in a loud, assured voice. Run this through your head like a videotape. (Don't 'negatively rehearse' by imagining yourself blowing it.)
* Nerves can cause us to 'babble' and our ideas to race. Don't be afraid to take a pause ... slow down ... take a breath. If you become confused and momentarily lose your thread, don't panic. Calmly check your cue cards and continue.
Tip: One experienced speaker recommends having the first four minutes or so 'hot-wired' - so well rehearsed that you know every word and gesture for that first few minutes.
Try to enjoy your presentation. Look on it as a performance -- you are a bit like an actor playing a part. Even if you are not feeling confident and at ease, pretend that you are.
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