Let’s face it: nervous ticks are annoying. More often than not, they are driven by our subconscious, so we don’t even notice they’re happening. Even the best presenters are likely to exhibit some form of a nervous tick when placed in a high-stress situation. When they’re not kept in check, these ticks can be distracting for both the presenter and the audience. So, what do we do? It starts by identifying your nervous tick, and then it’s time to overcome it.
Starting out as a presenter my nerves would surface through a fidgety hand in my pocket. I struggled to kick the tick for close to 6 months of presenting weekly. It took time to identify and even more time to overcome my nervous tick but all the effort was worth it to ensure every audience I was in front of was connected and engaged.
The team at Ethos3 has put together 3 tricks that you can implement today to help overcome your nervous tick.
Film every presentation.
Ask any seasoned presenter what their nervous tick is, and you’ll likely hear “Oh, I don’t have a nervous tick.” Have that same presenter watch their presentation on video, and that answer will quickly shift to “Oh, I never knew I did that.” Most of us are unaware of these small tells of tension and nerves, but once you view yourself from your audience’s eyes, you can see the small actions you didn’t even realize you were making. As awkward as watching a video of yourself may feel, it is vital to becoming more self aware when overcoming a nervous tick. Filming and watching your presentations will also allow you to continually monitor your progress as your nervous ticks diminish.
Create a punishment.
When I was trying to overcome my nervous tick as a novice presenter, my mentor created a penalty jar for me. Every time I succumbed to my nerves, I owed him $5. As my wallet got thinner, my body started to adjust to downplaying, and eventually avoiding, the tick. If you’re serious about overcoming your nervous tick, create some kind of penalty that you must pay every time you give in. Make sure that the penalty is strong enough that your subconscious will fight not to pay it. Your conscious desire to avoid the penalty will inevitably overcome your subconscious display of nerves.
Combat nervousness.
The easiest way to overcome a nervous tick is to simply avoid getting nervous. I know, I know — easier said than done! Let’s face it, we all get nervous at some point. But there are things we can do to combat nervousness. Visualize yourself giving your presentation ahead of time; visualization gives you a dry run of each presentation, making the moment you step in front of an audience feel like it’s not for the first time. Go for a walk before the presentation; walking releases nervous energy and will help you feel calmer when you step in front of your audience. Take deep breaths and maintain a power pose for several seconds; science shows that power posing increases confidence and reduces anxiety. Figure out what works best for you, and practice it with intention.
Nervous ticks can quickly derail an audience’s engagement and turn a knockout presentation into a miss. Though they may be difficult to conquer, they’re not impossible to overcome. If you are willing to put in the time and effort, you will find that your nervous tick will not just get better but disappear all together.
Looking for more tips and tricks on elevating your presentation skills? Check out the Presentation Mentor online course today.
