Of course you’re anxious! Does it seem like there is something unnatural about getting up in front of a crowded room – full of colleagues, peers and superiors – to present an array of complex information in an engaging, provocative PowerPoint display? That’s because it is!
Maybe the last time you stood in front of a roomful of people was when you misspelled a-n-g-z-y-i-t-y during that fifth grade spelling bee. Perhaps the only speech you ever gave consisted of a quick “Thank you” and a sprint across the stage when you were voted Shyest Girl by your graduating class in high school.
Presentations aren’t easy for anyone. They require a number of sophisticated skills. Lucky for us, just like Napoleon Dynamite, we can all learn skills. We can even learn how to keep cool.
Know the Room
The best, first, easiest step in chilling out before the big presentation is knowing the room. Arrive early. Walk around. Stand at the podium. Tap on the mic. Make the space your own. By the time the audience starts to arrive, you’ll be ready for step two.
Know the Audience
Now that you’ve made yourself at home, take the time to welcome your guests. Shake some hands. Smile and say hello. Before you know it you’ll feel like you are speaking to a group of friends, which is always easier than speaking to strangers.
Be Prepared
This one seems obvious, but it will be a tough afternoon if you don’t have your materials together. Practice your presentation until it’s effortless. When you do it for real, it will be.
Relax
You can even do this one standing up. Take a deep slow breath. Hold it. Let it out slowly. Picture your anxiety exiting and dissolving. Repeat.
See the Presentation
Visualize yourself walking to the podium. See yourself working that PowerPoint. Imagine yourself speaking like a poet, moving like a dancer, smiling like a movie star. Hey, pro athletes do this all the time and if it’s good enough for Tiger, it’s good enough for you.
Remember That People Want You to Be Great
When is the last time you went to hear a presentation thinking, “I hope this nervous wreck falls on his face”? Never! Your audience has to sit through this. They want you to be great!
No Apologies
Even though you may be dying on the inside, most people can’t tell that you are nervous. Never, ever apologize during your presentation.
Concentrate on Your Message
Focus on the details in the material. Focus on the audience. There are plenty of things to be thinking about, so quit thinking about yourself.
Experience
With every experience you will gain confidence. Soon that stage will feel like home. That podium will become a familiar friend. That PowerPoint projection will…well…you get the point.
If it’s time to do your presentation and you find you have absolutely no confidence, you can always choose to be brave. Which only entails telling oneself, “I am terrified. I’m doing it anyway!”
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