Sweaty palms, butterflies in your stomach, a dry mouth – do you struggle with nerves before a big presentation? Don’t worry you’re not alone, research shows that as many as 75% of us fear public speaking. In fact, people often rank the fear of speaking in public above the fear of death, which means, as comedian Jerry Seinfeld joked, “at a funeral, the average person would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy.”
The great news is that there are steps you can take before, during and after your presentation to help you banish your presenting nerves and own the room.
Before the presentation:
Silence your inner critic
The first tip is to stop second-guessing what everyone else will think of your performance and adopt a positive mindset instead. Build your inner confidence by focusing on why you have the credibility to present in front of your audience.
Reframe the fear
It’s entirely normal to feel nervous before a big presentation. It means your body is getting ready to perform. Try reframing this fear as excitement to help you boost your performance.
Practice, practice, practice
Set aside a decent amount of time to practise your presentation out loud and, if possible, in front of a friend or colleague. The more you rehearse, the more confident you’ll become and your presentation nerves will start to disappear.
During the presentation:
Start as you mean to go on
First impressions really do count. Most people feel a surge of adrenaline when they start presenting so prepare for this by writing out your first sentence in full. This way no matter how nervous you feel, you can deliver it with confidence and help banish your stage fright.
Walk the talk
Your body language indicates to your audience how you are feeling. Whether it’s playing with your rings, fiddling with your hair – be aware of any nervous habits. Instead stand in a confident position and try moving around – it will allow you to engage better with your audience and make you feel more in control.
Pace yourself
The more nervous you are before a presentation, the more tempting it can be to rush your delivery. Take a deep breath before you start your presentation – this will allow more oxygen to reach your brain and help you steady your nerves. Then slow your speech to make it easy for your audience to follow your presentation.
Close with conviction
The secret is to stop talking before your audience has stopped listening. Make your final words memorable by recapping the purpose of your presentation and include your call to action.
After the presentation:
Ask for feedback
Remember feedback is a gift. It helps us improve, so be brave and ask people how they thought your presentation went and whether there are any areas for improvement.
Don’t beat yourself up
If your presentation didn’t go as planned, draw on your resilience by taking the learnings and moving on. Think of what you can do next time to raise your presenting game.
Watch your idols
Take inspiration from people already at the top of their presenting game. Observe the techniques they use when they present to help you hone your own presenting skills.
Developing your presentation skills doesn’t happen overnight. By adopting this principle of plan, do and review, you’ll learn how to manage your nerves so you can present like a pro.
