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One of the best ways to build confidence in your ability to deliver a successful speech is to get to work soon after you receive an assignment and follow an organized plan to craft and practice your speech. Resist the temptation to procrastinate—speech apprehension is associated with inadequate preparation.¹⁰ Conversely, high anxiety can be reduced by good preparation;¹¹ when a speaker gets down to business and makes progress on a speech, he or she will feel less anxious.¹² The point is clear: select a topic as soon as possible, and draft an outline well in advance.

Once you have an outline, you can take other steps to improve your speech and build confidence. One helpful suggestion is to get your instructor’s feedback on your outline. This feedback, perhaps in the form of comments on your outline or a list of the standards he or she uses for grading, will help you improve your speech and reduce the stress of not knowing how it will be evaluated.¹³

You can also gain confidence by practicing your speech. One study found that when students delivered their speech three times before a small group of classmates, they experienced a reduction in speech anxiety.¹⁴ If it is not practical to practice with a group of classmates, you can present your speech to friends and family. If you follow this plan—beginning right away, asking for feedback, and practicing—you will be on the right track to building confidence.