5 ways to reduce your anxiety when giving a presentation
Did you know fear of public speaking ranks higher than most people’s fear of heights, snakes and even death?
It is the reason many of my clients seek my help, and so I thought I would put together some helpful, simple tips you can use to begin reducing your anxiety when giving a presentation.
Practice
There is no way around it, and no substitute - the more you practice the better the performance. There is a reason Michael Cane says all his lines 1000 times before walking onto set (and no that’s not a random number…he really does say them 1000 times). When in character, he doesn’t want to be focused on remembering lines or what words to say next; he wants to be in the moment, connecting with the person he’s talking to. Rehearse your material so that you can put all your energy into the delivery.
2. Rehearse your script out loud
This is truly one of the most effective techniques to start doing today. People are often amazed by an actor’s ability to retain an entire script in their heads, but the truth is they don’t hold it all in their heads; a huge part of the script is stored in their muscle memory. Their mouths have formed the same sequence of words so many times, that once they start saying the lines their jaw, tongue and lips take over and work almost on their own.
3. Memorise the beginning and end
The best thing you can do is memorise your whole presentation. However, time constraints mean that isn’t always realistic, so aim to learn the beginning and the end and be 75% familiar with the rest. By starting strong you encourage the audience to relax and believe they are in confident, credible hands. Similarly, by finishing strong you leave the audience with a lasting positive impression. Learning the first and final paragraphs also allows you to lift your eyes from the page and connect with your listeners.
4. Do a tech check
When you’re nervous about presenting, the last thing you need is for the projector to not work or the microphone to cut out. Get there early! Build in time before you begin to do a solid technical check so there will be no unhelpful surprises. If you are in a foreign space like a conference centre, ask to meet the tech support staff, have them stay for the first 10 minutes of the talk, and have their number to hand should you need them.
5. There is no shame in not knowing
The questions that follow a presentation is often the part presenters dread the most. At least you can prepare the bit before, but there is no knowing what someone might ask you during Q&A! For anyone who has watched an episode of Dragons Den, you will know there is nothing more excruciating than watching someone fumble and splutter as they try to answer a question they don’t know the answer to. Here’s the thing, not knowing the answer isn’t the problem; it’s how you choose to deal with it and respond. Rather than allowing it to throw you off and getting flustered, simply be honest. “I’m not 100% sure about that, let me find out and get back to you”; “Our technical team would be able to provide more detail on that. I will ask them to send more information over this afternoon”, or “The numbers have completely escaped me at this moment, but I will bring them to you as soon as we are finished”. Keep calm and professional and your audience will maintain their confidence in you. Remember, nobody knows the answer to everything!