When you get up to give a speech, what reaction do you hope to get from the audience?  What will be your grade on your own inner report card?  Do you expect to give an extraordinary speech that will have them on their feet whistling and stamping, or do you expect to be a flop?  Do you expect to go from start to finish smoothly, confidently, without a hitch or a glitch, or do you expect to forget something really important in the middle?  What are your expectations when you get up to speak?

Have you ever split yourself in two while talking in front of the room?  One half of your brain is busy giving your speech and thinking, "This is the information you came for.  This is the message you want to hear.  Listen up, because this is really interesting stuff and you'll gain terrific benefits from it," while the other half is playing saboteur going, "Uh-oh, did I leave anything out?  Are they listening?  They look bored.  They're not paying attention.  I feel faint.  My mouth is dry.  My hands are shaking.  They think I'm making a fool of myself.  Why did I think I could do this?  I'm no good.  I'm a failure!  Aaarrrrghgghg!"

You've heard the popular saying:  "If you believe you can, or you believe you can't...you're right!"  It absolutely applies to overcoming fears about public speaking.  Whatever you choose to believe about your ability to impress an audience will come true.  It's a fact.  People who expect to be successful achieve their expectations.  Whether you're running a business, writing a book or making a speech, if you believe you can, you will. 

If you can sincerely say to yourself, "I know my subject, I've rehearsed what I'm going to say, I'm prepared to respond to anything the audience might ask of me, I'm ready to do a bang-up job and I expect to speak extremely well..." then there's no doubt about it.  You've set yourself up for success.  Your expectation is firm and realistic, you've prepared yourself for this moment, you expect to succeed.  Consciously or unconsciously, you've chosen to be a winner.