Having to present in front of a group of people can be daunting, especially when the stakes are high. Don't let this pressure derail you and try these simple ways to keep cool about your next presentation.
A bit of excitement is actually good for your performance on stage because it sharpens your mind and helps you think on your feet.
Feeling anxious about presentations is very common and many people report symptoms of stress before and/or during a presentation. Even if you have had negative experiences in the past, do not despair. You can actively manage your anxiety. Most importantly, we need to demystify anxiety and acknowledge that everybody reacts differently to the stress associated to giving a presentation. The key lies in understanding your specific anxiety patterns and identifying strategies that work for you. Here are some proven techniques to get you started.
Your performance during a presentation is in large parts determined by the preparation leading up to it. The goal is to make you feel confident about the materials you have prepared and your ability to deliver these in front of your audience.
Taking the guesswork out of the preparation stage and developing a clear strategy for your presentation will make it easier for you to know what you want to achieve with your presentation and how you will go after it. Check out our prep kit for step by step instructions to guide you through the stages of preparing a strong presentation that resonates with your audience. Also look into our preparation tips for reducing stress and avoiding the crunch.
A useful technique used by professional athletes is to take a few minutes, close your eyes and paint a vivid picture of success in your head. Imagine yourself acing the presentation in detail. Picture yourself and the audience as you deliver your presentation.
The beginning of your presentation is not only critical for the success of your presentation, but it is also one of the most challenging moments for speakers. By knowing exactly what you want to say here and rehearsing the beginning, you are removing a lot of friction from your presentation.
On the day of your presentation, you want to make sure your room is set up and everything is working well. So arrive early and be genuinely nice to the tech people who can help you set up your slides, sound and light. Get all of that out of the way before the first members of your audience enter the room.
Especially if you need to present more frequently, it pays off to develop your own presentation routine. Some people find it unnerving to see the room fill up and prefer to go outside for some chit chat. Others need five minutes of deep breathing with no soul in sight. Find out what works for you and make it habitual.
Once your presentation is set up and the audience is there, some speakers experience a rush at the start of their presentation as if jumping into cold water and then somewhat easing into it. Others will be on edge the entire time.
Whatever your experience, there are a number of measures you can take to reduce stress during your presentation:
Many speakers are aware of these pointers, but a lot of advice goes unimplemented, because speakers have more than enough to handle mentally already during their presentation. There is a tendency towards tunnel vision wherein they focus, for example, on their words and audience and not on fine-tuning their performance.
Instead of relying on your memory to remind you to focus on your body during your presentation, you can simply put a physical object in your field of view unnoticed by your audience. Depending on your personal sticking points, you can put a sticky note on your laptop or place a stress ball on your lectern to remind you each time you see it, to take a deep breath, slow down your speech and roll back your shoulders.
Just in case, follow these steps to keep your nerves in check.
Take a moment and take a deep breath.
Manage your nerves by setting yourself up for success and continuously checking in.
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