How can I overcome my fear of public speaking?

Confidence building starts with what one thinks about himself/herself. Self Criticism or self deprecation or thinking low about oneself is the most dangerous thing and one should refrain from it.

When you are addressing a group of people, we tend to get too conscious about what each of them will think, Secondly there is an unwritten expectation of you from yourself that, you must do good and people should clap. This expectation builds further tension.

You can choose to focus on certain people in the public if you are familiar to them or choose to look straight at the end of the hall to avoid public gaze at you. Assure yourself that you are here to share something with people and you want them to know.This perspective helps in easing out the tension you have in mind.

The most important thing while you are talking to anyone is that you both are humans, so irrespective of someone who might be of a different race, religion, income level, position, you both are equal as humans and this thought helps in treating everyone as equals.