It is said that second to the fear of death, is the fear of speaking in public. If you often experience butterflies flitting frenetically in your stomach before a presentation, then read ahead!
- Being nervous is good news! It means that you care deeply about the outcome of your talk. This commitment, when channelized correctly, is what can make you a ‘passionate’ speaker.
- Practice, practice, practice!!! The thumb rule for practice before a presentation is 21 spoken rehearsals! Beautifying and editing slides till the very last minute do not count as practise. Rather, while practicing, talkthroughyour speech, speak out loud on the key message of each slide asserting benefits to the audience. Clock time of your talk. For added confidence, try ‘teaching’ someone else the subject of your presentation. After all, you learn best what you teach!
- Don’t worry about ‘pleasing’ everyone: Rather align the audience to a mutually beneficial result: highlight the common purpose and reiterate a shared positive outcome. Being needy for appreciation and acceptance can make you weak.
- Don’t make presentation into battlefields. Consider the audience to be your allies and not Be inclusive in your presentation. Pause from time to time to ask open questions like “So how do you feel about this?” or “Let me pause here for your comments “ and acknowledge their responses with statements like “Yes, that doubt is valid” or “I agree, that viewpoint is worth considering”
- Lastly, don’t take yourself too seriously. Not everyone there is evaluating you! We give ourselves too much credit! Relax, smile and get a perspective. Learn to laugh at yourself if you goof up. We all have our days!