How to encourage a friend?

Have him practice his speech or part of it in front of you. Give him supportive feedback to boost his confidence.

Some helpful resources:

http://www.clinicalhypnotherapy-cardiff ... l-anxiety/
http://www.clinicalhypnotherapy-cardiff ... -speaking/
http://www.clinicalhypnotherapy-cardiff ... king-tips/

There is no need to worry about these things. Encourage him, let him know that he is the best and he can do this easily. Also try him to speak in front of few people which he knows.

I was the same! The best way is to throw him to do it the scare desapears when you do it! Give him feedback for every time being better. The best form to do public speaking is by simple tell a story that occurs to him, Is the easiest way to him do the public speaking

Nothing seems really scary on the 71st attempt. If he knows the material very well and he believes that this material is going to be helpful to the audience, he shouldn't be scary. However, some practical tips from great speakers will boost his confidence, like: how long should a talk last, what is the structure of the talk, when to tell a joke and when not.

Personally, when I have to do something I've never done before, I usually try to be a perfectionist and then miserably fail the first attempt That's why practice in front of friends, family, maybe a group slightly less than 300 people is vital.

I also like to take advices from the PRO's 'cause that boost my confidence like "I know what most of the people who will do the same thing with me don't know" - that always powerful.

Try to get him to do something he is afraid of, getting people out of their comfort zone is the best way to develop confidence. Try to set challenges for him like talking to 5 strangers in 1 day. Maybe you could do the challenges with him, this way it would be more fun and as he gets more and more comfortable, make the challenges harder. This will slowly but surely bring his confidence out.

jenn_ wrote:lacking in confidence

Confidence increases with success. Listening to his opening remarks repeatedly will help him start out strong. Even if it's just the first 30 to 60 seconds of his talk!

If you were to make that "repeatedly" extremely literal as in as many as 100 times his confidence will be bursting!

Remind him that the anticipation is the worst part, and that as soon as he opens his mouth it will all start to fade.

Also, remind him that anxiety is the response to "What ifs", so make him avoid those mental questions.

Well you can encourage him and it depends on him to be courageos and to read self esteem materials

tell him that before going public you will wet his trousers to make it looks like he wet him self, then tell him, you will not do that.

just believe in yourself man

Let him practice on you. If he knows what he's talking about he has nothing to fear. Just breathe in and breathe out and talk slowly.