Tips to Temper Speaking Anxiety

People take it for granted that leaders have achieved some skill in public speaking. Yet anxiety persists because leaders face very challenging situations and have a great risk of embarrassment. Here are some tips for tempering those anxieties.

INTRODUCING A SPEAKER

When you introduce a speaker, answer three questions: 1) Why is this topic being addressed? 2) Why this speaker? And 3) Why now? For example, "Today the Federal Register calls for comments on proposed legislation to raise taxes on gasoline. Our guest speaker has worked in the industry for 10 years and is now legislative aide for Senator . . . ."

Most professional speakers will provide an introduction for you which will answer the second question. Simply lead into it with the answers to the other questions.

READING FROM A SCRIPT

Does reading a speech from a lectern without a TelePrompTer make you feel like you are bobbing for apples? You raise your head and quickly sweep the audience with your eyes and then plunge back into the script. You know that eye contact is essential, yet you cannot risk a misstatement.

To get rid of that feeling, have your speech typed only on the top half of the page and place the page as high up on the lectern as is comfortable. That way you need only raise your eyes and not your head to look at the audience. The distance between audience and script is shorter so there is also less risk of losing your place.

Type your speech large letters, double spaced. That way even in dim light you can easily read it. If time permits, read the speech aloud to yourself several times before you present it.

PRESENTING TO THE BOARD

Board presentations may be the most challenging public speaking you face. Usually the group is small, and you must be prepared to answer questions. You have certain advantages here: First, you have an opportunity to prepare. You may not be the expert, but you will probably know more about the topic than the audience does.

Second, you either know the members of the board or have an opportunity to learn about them in advance by reading biographies or profiles.

Third, you know the outcome you seek. It may be a favorable decision by the board or simply a better understanding of an issue.

To help focus your message, define its purpose in one sentence before beginning to develop it. As you develop the content, select key points leading to the outcome you want. Anticipate questions by putting yourself in your audience's position. Some questions can be answered in the presentation and, therefore, will not need to be asked.

Have supporting information at your fingertips to expand on a point if requested. This will raise your comfort level and enhance your credibility with the board. It is best to know the board's expectations before you finalize the presentation.

REHEARSING FOR SUCCESS

After the content and charts, if any, are to your satisfaction, rehearse your presentation a few times. Most charts will contain only key phrases and pictures or graphics, not complete sentences.

You may want to write a script to use during rehearsal but it is best not to read from a script during your presentation. Try mind-mapping, do an outline, and have only a few notes at hand to reassure yourself.

Schedule some quiet time prior to your presentation and mentally rehearse. If you are nervous, take a few deep breaths, visualize yourself at your best, then give it all you've got!

There is no need to fear public speaking. Anyone can hone their skills with a little practice and mental preparation. Understand your topic, learn all you can about your audience, decide what action you want your listeners to take, and motivate them to act!

Jo Condrill is a professional speaker who has experience briefing general officers in the Pentagon. Jo has held leadership positions at the Pentagon, and was awarded the Army's highest civilian award, the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service. She is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College and author of "Take Charge of Your Life: Dare to Pursue Your Dreams" and "101 Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills Instantly." She provides unique seminar learning experience in leadership, team building, personal development, and success strategies. http://www.goalminds.com

---

How to Chair a Meeting

You don't have to be on a stage to be... Read More

Cell Phone Dos And Dont During A Meeting

What would we do without our cell phones? Wow, there's... Read More

I Love the Smell of PowerPoint in the Morning: The 5 Sensory Approach to Business Presentations

You're in a conference room. You're giving a PowerPoint presentation... Read More

Cross Cultural Presentations

The international flavour of many people's jobs naturally means that... Read More

Develop The Winners Edge Through Conversational Hypnosis

Communication is vital for survival in an age of information... Read More

10 Profitable Tips for Creating Better Sales Presentations

No matter what your business is, you will enhance your... Read More

Why You Need a Lesson Plan

LESSON PLAN DEVELOPMENT: Lesson plans, believe it or not, are... Read More

The Seven Deadly Sins of Presentations

Every day, so many tens of thousands of innocent clients... Read More

A Powerful Presentation Technique-Story Telling

Appealing to emotions is the most powerful way to transfer... Read More

The Ten Essential Tips On Writing A Powerful And Persuasive Presentation

Have you ever had to give a speech?Do you remember... Read More

How Storytelling Can Grow Your Business

People love stories. We love to hear about other people,... Read More

Presentation Paranoia

"The human brain starts working the moment you are born... Read More

Lecturing from the Lectern

Most people love to hide behind the lectern.. It makes... Read More

Move Key Audiences to Actions You Want

How?Try a blueprint like this: people act on their own... Read More

Ten Fun Ways to Liven up Any Presentation

Most of us would agree that having humor in our... Read More

Data Visualization Flash Charts: Information in a Flash

Flash chart, flash map, flash graph may be mistaken for... Read More

Powerpoint Sales Presentations Are Boring - Stop It!

As the meeting began, the project manager of the buying... Read More

Coaching Tips for Powerful Presentations

Tip #1 The purpose of your speech is to get... Read More

The Presentation After the Presentation

Allowing the audience to ask questions after your presentation is... Read More

Your Unique Point of View

I had a chance to go to one of those... Read More

How to Teach: Lecture vs. Discussion

WHEN ONLY A LECTURE WILL DO: Under certain circumstances, of... Read More

After the Speech

Usually the emphasis on making an effective speech is what... Read More

Quick and Easy Rehearsal Tips

Never rehearse at the last minute. This creates undue tension... Read More

Present Statistics In Context

"I didn't have 3000 pairs of shoes. I had only... Read More

Communication Barriers and Simplifying the Communication Process

The communication process can be much more difficult than a... Read More

Present for Success: Simple Strategies to Add Confidence and Credibility to Your Next Presentation

Tomorrow's the day and you're dreading it. You're scheduled to... Read More

PowerPoint Presentations: How to Use This Tool More Effectively

Many of us use PowerPoint to convey a message to... Read More

Writing The Query Letter

The query letter is simply a business letter that serves... Read More

Networking: How to Network Within Your Organisation

Although there are any number of different networking groups and... Read More

How to Begin a Lesson Plan

DEVELOPING LESSON PLANS: In developing lesson plan formats, two things... Read More

Too Many Choices - Dont Confuse Your Customers

Conventional wisdom is that the more choices customers have, the... Read More

Presentation Skills: Be More Productive Using a Facilitator Mode

There are many definitions for presentations. When you present there... Read More

Total Recall: How to Remember Your Speech Without Memorizing

We all fear that moment. You look out on a... Read More