Knocking knees, butterflies (who came up with that word?) in your stomach, sweaty palms, quavering voice. We've all been there ? some of us more than others. I'm going to share with you some of the tricks of the trade to help manage and reduce your anxiety before and during your presentation. These methods are tried and true and have helped many presenters.
The first time is always the worst and it gets better from there.
In 1991, I gave my first presentation to a large audience. My audience was 150 fifth and six grade students in an outside courtyard of an elementary school. I was scheduled to give a 35-minute student assembly that explained a collection of international artifacts (masks, musical instruments, hats, and other interesting items). It was a program designed to increase multicultural understanding. I was so fired up about the topic, and thought that it was such an important subject that I thought I could deliver the program.
Well, of course everything went wrong! The wind picked up and knocked some of the items off the display table (the kids thought this was funny, I didn't). The microphone had that horrible screeching feedback. My knees shook the whole time, my voice quavered, my heart pounded ? and I felt like it was going on forever. I got through my content somehow and looked at my watch. I gave a 35-minute presentation in 15-minutes! I think that I probably forgot to breathe.
After packing up my items and loading them in my car, I collapsed in the driver's seat. When my heart starting beating normally, I had a realization. My realization was that I did deliver the program, yes?terribly, but I did finish it and it would probably never again be that bad. From that point on, I learned something from every program I gave; how to keep the audience engaged, how to test AV equipment BEFORE I started, how to breathe normally and speak at the same time. The list goes on and on. In three years, I delivered this program to more than 100,000 students and teachers.
Today, I help adults develop the skills of public speaking. It seems that everyone has some degree of nervousness or anxiety. What I know is that you can live through those feelings and that over time they get easier and easier to deal with. Give these strategies a try and see if they will help you too.
How about having a conversation?
Use your mental energy to think of your next presentation as a conversation. You have conversations all day, every day! Do you get nervous before a conversation? Most conversations are non-threatening experiences, just a way for two or more people to communicate something. How is a presentation different than that? Try to think of your presentation as a conversation, just with a few more people. See if that eases your mind and nerves.
Make some new friends in the audience.
Most people are nervous in front of an audience of strangers. What would happen if you had a friend in the audience, or a group of friends? Would you feel more comfortable? Next time you have to give a presentation to a group you don't know ? do something revolutionary! Introduce yourself, shake hands, and greet as many of the audience as possible before your talk begins. That way, when you're standing in the front of the room looking out, it is no longer a sea of strangers, but a friendly group, because you met some of the people first. You'll want to find them in the audience and make eye contact, and it won't be too hard, because they'll probably be smiling at you.
Put yourself in your audience's shoes for a moment. Imagine that you are attending a special seminar at work. How would you feel if before the seminar, the speaker took a moment to introduce herself to you? Would you be a more receptive listener to what she had to say? I bet your answer is yes!
How about smiling?
Smiling has a physiological affect on us ? it helps to calm our nerves and make us feel better. It also has the added bonus of making us appear more pleasant, comfortable and happy ? definite positive characteristics of a presenter. Often times, the audience will mirror the expression of the presenter. So guess what happens when you smile? You got it; your audience will be more likely to smile back at you.
Let's review.
You've just learned some simple, yet effective, techniques to help reduce and manage nervousness while giving a presentation. I challenge you to try them out and see if they work for you.
Remember to:
1. Have a conversation with your audience.
2. Make some new friends before your presentation.
3. SMILE! It just might prove infectious and make you feel a whole lot more at ease!
4. Learn from every presentation you give and you'll see that it does get easier and easier.
About The Author
Dana is the author of the interactive manual Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking. Please visit her website http://www.speakforsuccess.net
Dana Bristol-Smith is the founder of Speak for Success, an organization that works with companies that want their people to communicate with confidence and credibility. Companies hire Dana to give skill-building workshops and to provide coaching. She has delivered presentations and training to more than 100,000 people since 1992.
You can reach Dana via email at mail to: dana@speakforsuccess.net
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Uptalk is invading the work place and is reaching epidemic... Read More
Speaking in public can be a powerful way to build... Read More
1.Preparation The most important step in public speaking is... Read More
Have you ever worked for weeks or even months, often... Read More
As one who does some speech coaching, I have heard... Read More
I don't know how many books, articles, manuals and scripts... Read More
This Article Is For Those Who Understand How Persuasive Communication,... Read More
Directing a voice-over talent you've hired to read a spot... Read More
Prayer or Meditation: If you're a believer you can pray... Read More
You have probably had the experience of listening to a... Read More
When choosing keywords, you'll want to stay away from using... Read More
Effective communication is not a one-way street. It involves an... Read More
I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date. No... Read More
If you want public speaking tips, what are the ten... Read More
He's been accused of "mangling the language, destroying its meaning... Read More
There is plenty of dubious material which suggests you can... Read More
Do you work for one of those organisations whose "training"... Read More
When I made the decision to do free workshops and... Read More
When requested to write an article about public speaking tips,... Read More
One of the biggest regrets of my life is that... Read More
No matter how good you are as a presenter, there... Read More
Speak from your heart. If you believe in what you... Read More
Every day millions of people around the world make a... Read More
The more you know about your audience, the better your... Read More
Delivering an effective presentation to 20 or to 200 people... Read More
Almost everybody is nervous when they stand up to speak.... Read More
Do you believe in natural laws? Laws like:? What goes... Read More
What is worse than wearing a tuxedo to an event... Read More
Picture a cool crisp autumn morning in the wide open... Read More
When we communicate, we usually want something to happen. We... Read More
Aside from fielding and asking questions, there are other ways... Read More
... --- ... SOS This is the traditional seafaring emergency... Read More
1. Listen to your internal dialog. 2. Visualize a positive... Read More
FearOf what am I afraid, you ask. Of myself, I... Read More
It is important to be continually aware that a person... Read More
Mandy*, a bright, attractive professional woman, had a fear of... Read More
Every speech has an audience and every audience is different.... Read More
Centuries ago great speakers often spoke two hours and more.... Read More
"Would you like to say a few words?" How many... Read More
There are a number of factors that determine how your... Read More
"More learning occurs through emotion than through intellect" C.S. LewisEven... Read More
Think of it like this: your fee credibility is as... Read More
What information can be used immediately by the audience and... Read More
What's the worst reaction you've ever gotten when you made... Read More
Have you ever watched a speaker and said, "Wow, I... Read More
If you've ever been on stage, doing a talk or... Read More
Last night the phone rang; my wife said, "I hope... Read More
Wouldn't it be great if you didn't have to be... Read More
Making a speech seems simple. You speak, others listen. However... Read More
This is one of the hardest things speakers have to... Read More
Use your voice to your advantage. One of your main... Read More
Effective communication is not a one-way street. It involves an... Read More
While delivering a speech, it is clear that we will... Read More
Most of us get nervous about making a speech, whether... Read More
Whether you want to be a part time, full time... Read More
What is worse than wearing a tuxedo to an event... Read More
Public speaking is among the five most feared activities human... Read More
I learned my craft as a speaker a long time... Read More
Microphones are designed to help your voice, not replace it.... Read More
Sadly, the public speaking circle has its fair share of... Read More
There is huge potential to create additional profits from your... Read More
In a conference setting, nothing annoys audiences more than talks... Read More
"Educate, Energize, Entertain, and provide an experience for your audience"1.... Read More
Does speaking in public leave you tongue-tied? Do you stumble... Read More
Picture a cool crisp autumn morning in the wide open... Read More
In elementary school, most of us asked questions which were... Read More
Public Speaking |