You can become a more confident speaker when two conditions are in place: You know your subject, and you love your subject. When people talk about something they know and love, such as sailing, or traveling, or cooking, they speak easily and enthusiastically. They are not focused uncomfortably on themselves. They are focused on sharing.
The next time you are scheduled to speak, ask yourself if you know the subject well enough, and if you love the subject. Both need to be true. Perhaps more knowledge would help you love it more, or perhaps loving it more would lead to more knowledge.
If your employer asks you to speak about something you don’t know or love, either find a way to get there, or negotiate to speak about something else. The audience can tell when you are not enthusiastic or knowledgeable. Get yourself on the right footing and the rest is so much easier!
