There is an affliction which is affecting the lives of millions of employees...it is known scientifically as glossophobia but the layman will recognise it as a fear of public speaking. This does not necessarily mean a fear of talking to an auditorium filled with 5000 people; it could mean talking to a small group of staff or even team members.

One of the most important ways to overcome this fear is to focus on what will hold the interest of your audience. The aim is to make people nod, smile and listen. When you have your audience gripped in this manner, your nerves start to relax and you can deliver a speech with ease.

If you are one of the many who recognise those feelings of queasiness in the stomach, sweaty palms and a mind which goes blank then you know how much more emphasised those feelings become when you finally walk onto the stage. How do you 'wow' that audience when you become paralysed on the spot?

Why do we suffer from this fear? Believe it or not, public speaking is not something which comes natural to us. Even the most confident looking speakers suffer pangs of nervousness before facing their audience.

When it comes down to the bare bones of it...our speech will never be as we imagine it to be. We all dream of an audience eating out of the palm of our hand. They love us and want us to keep talking, we feel good, we look good and our voice reaches all of those ultimate tones and textures to fit the emotions that we are trying to convey. We see heads nodding in agreement and we do not falter once.

Sounds good...but it is rarely going to happen...However, some of the best speeches actually occur when every line has not been memorised and our own skill and personality shines through. When we accept the fact that our speech is never going to be perfect, we are halfway to overcoming our fear.

One way to build confidence is to emanate it by using some clever tricks to re-programme the mind. Never tell your audience that you are nervous, they do not need to know this. Most of the time, fear does not show on our faces.

Another good way to improve your performance is to ask someone to record you on video. Looking back at yourself, you will probably be quite amazed at the way your nerves do not show and how well you conducted yourself. You could build on those qualities by noting areas which you can perfect in future.

Smile. When you smile the body releases endorphins that make you feel good inside. There is nothing more appealing than a speaker with a pleasant smile. Remember when you feel good, the audience will feel the same way!

Practise some breathing exercises to stop the blood pressure from soaring through the roof. Slow, deep breaths will help to keep you calm both mentally and physically. Stand calmly and clearly. Ensure that you have a glass of water by your side to stop your mouth from becoming dry.

Nervous energy can be used in a positive way. Bring it to the speech centre and front of the brain by pressing and massaging the forehead. This will help to convert negative waves into enthusiasm and passion when you speak.

One other way of dealing with a fear of public speaking is to relate with your audience the way that you would respond to a speaker. Talk to your listeners, not down to them and stop focussing on yourself. The audience is sat waiting to receive some useful information from you, it is your job to ensure that they go away satisfied with what you had to say and not how you performed.

You can gain rapport by looking into the eyes of individual members, even if there are over 300 sets of peepers in the room. When you address someone with eye contact, you single them out as being important which is something people respect and admire. This form of contact also helps the speaker because for a few split seconds it turns a room full of strangers into a one to one conversation rather than a group gathering.

Don't be afraid to repeat important points, repetition is the perfect way to instil in people your key points. Accentuate a happy, joyful personality in your voice using lots of high notes, refreshing silent pauses and speak more slowly than you would in usual conversation.

Why not counteract those nerves by practising your speech with friends or family members and feel the satisfaction of being able to educate and enlighten them with your ideas. You can see the way that your friends are intrigued by your speech and you feel good. With this feeling already programmed inside of you, the mind is accustomed to talking in front of people and you will face your audience with that same confidence you felt in front of your family.

Try out some or all of the techniques above and you are sure to find a way of converting those nerves into positive energy which can be used to enhance your speech. These tips will help to decrease the amount of uncertainty that you have and replace it with confidence. When you stop your nerves from becoming your enemy, you stop your fear of public speaking and will amaze not only yourself but your entire audience with your calm, cool delivery.