If you have a fear of public speaking, you have probably tried countless strategies to reduce your anxiety.  Common suggestions are to attempt to focus on your breathing, practice on a group of friends, and the Brady Bunch method of picturing your audience in their underwear.  For too many of us, none of these methods work very well when your heart is about to beat itself right out of your chest.  However, I have found a little trick to help me through these situations.  I enlist the help of a friend who will be in the crowd by having them ask me a question within the first few minutes that I have begun speaking.  This is when I am most nervous and the distraction of having to answer a question actually settles my nerves.  By the time I return to my presentation, I am much calmer.  I think it is because the act of answering someone brings me into a dialogue with that person and I no longer feel like all eyes are on me.  Strange concept, but it's effective.  It won't work in all situations.  Obviously, there are times when you need to address a crowd and the speech does not allow for interruptions.  But, for the more casual business meeting, it is very helpful.  And, with time and practice, an uninterrupted speech to a large crowd will seem much less daunting.