Getting nervous when giving presentations is normal. For some the idea of standing in front of others, and being the centre of attention in that moment, can be overwhelming. Dark thoughts of being judged or of looking foolish can take over. So what can be done to tackle the nerves and ensure you deliver a professional and impressive presentation?
The more you prepare and rehearse, the more confident you’ll feel when it’s time to give your presentation.
Practice the message not the script.
Don’t script the presentation such that you end up memorising it word for word. This method of learning takes skill to deliver naturally and it’s difficult to recover if you miss a line or forget whole passages of your speech. Providing you know your subject you should do fine.
It’s okay to use prompt cards or notes for support if that’s how you feel most comfortable delivering your presentation.
Practice in front of friends.
If possible practice in front of friends and/or family. Their job in the first instance is mainly just to be there. Not to feedback except positively. Once you’ve run through your presentation a couple of times and feel confident in front of friends and family, you can ask for constructive feedback. Try to anticipate any questions or objections that might come up and ask your friends and family to ask these.
Be yourself.
Be yourself, however that might be. If you like to refer to graphics or use props then do that. Or if you prefer to use PowerPoint or just speak directly to your audience, that’s fine. If you try to do something you are not fully comfortable with you are likely to come unstuck.
For instance, many people think to give a successful presentation you need to add some humour. If you find this easy then go ahead. If you don’t it will only seem forced and may cause you to feel more anxious if people don’t laugh. You are a business person, not a comedian so don’t feel the need to add humour if it doesn’t come naturally.
Visualise success
Try positive visualisation to help build your confidence for the big day. This is an increasingly popular form of confidence building and it’s backed by research.
Present yourself
Some people worry about what people think about their clothing or look in general while delivering a speech or presentation. Don’t make what you’re wearing the subject of your audience’s attention. Think about how you will appear to others and then forget about it while deliveing the speech. Once you know you have taken care of your appearance don’t fixate on it. People will be interested in what you have to say or show, so focus on that instead.
The presentation
When it comes to the day of the presentation the nerves, no matter how well you prepare, will come back. If you have prepared well, and followed the techniques to calm your nerves, you should feel fine once you get started. However, here are some tips to take on board before you start.
Time keeping
Arrive in good time. Rushing to make an appointment or not being ready because you are fumbling with paperwork will just add to your anxiety on the day.
Smile
Smiling conveys confidence and makes you appear more approachable to your audience. It can also help to relax you and make you feel more positive about giving your presentation.
Take deep breaths.
Taking some deep breaths before you start speaking can help calm your nerves and steady your voice.
And finally…
Remember that everyone gets nervous before giving a presentation. The key is not to let your nerves get the better of you. If you focus on delivering a well-prepared and engaging presentation, chances are your audience won’t even notice how nervous you are.