How to avoid being scared during a presentation
19 February 2009
Read by 2104 persons
Public speaking isn’t easy. Some people seem like experts, but for you, it might be a huge effort to present yourself in front of a group of any size. Even if you know your subject by heart, you might lose your composure when faced with the task and feel like you don’t know your subject anymore.
Here are some tips that can help you in the future:
1. Admit you’re nervous.
Openly admitting that you’re nervous will make your audience more forgiving of any small mistakes or language slips you might make. Also, by sharing this discomfort with the group in front of you, you create a connection that, even if not necessarily perceived by others, will give you a little more confidence.
2. Invest in an effective support.
It’s always easier to give a presentation when the audience isn’t staring at you. A good way to make sure the audience isn’t focused on you, which could make you nervous: Accompany your oral presentation with an eye-catching PowerPoint presentation, or a handout for your audience.
If some people are looking at you, then glance at someone who has their nose buried in this document, so you don’t fixate on anyone’s eyes, which, if too intense, could disrupt your presentation and make you derail.
3. Reconsider your audience.
The people in front of you are there to listen to you. You’re the only one in charge. They may also be there to judge your work and presentation. So, challenge this underlying impression that these people are judgmental, uncompromising, and particularly harsh: They are people like you, who have lives not necessarily more exciting than yours. They wear underwear, just like you (I assume), and don’t see you as a nobody who has everything to prove. You have your personality and they have theirs. They should respect you and your work, and if they don’t, or if they don’t pay attention, they’re the idiots, move on.
4. Talk to one person at a time.
To forget the large number of people in your audience and not be overwhelmed by this mass of people listening to you silently, you can focus your attention on one person at a time. As if you were only giving this presentation to that one person.
It’s paradoxical: it’s obviously encouraged to let your gaze wander from one person to another, to appear more dynamic. However, if this “being more dynamic” translates to “I don’t know where I’m going, I’m looking everywhere” because of stress, then adopt a “slightly less dynamic” gaze!
5. Give your opinion.
It would be very easy to simply reproduce content you’ve read on a blog or in a book. Don’t hesitate to give your opinion! Do it spontaneously and unexpectedly. Your audience came to see you, not to see you read a book.
Moreover, giving your opinion will allow you to reach a level where giving a presentation is fun again. You will be more comfortable, speak more naturally, in your own words.
The art of presentation is complex but easily mastered. You know your text before you go on stage. What you may be lacking is far from insurmountable. It’s a behavior to be modified. Modifying this is particularly easy if you are able to identify what you need to aim for. If, the first few times, you consciously force yourself to act differently, this new behavior will become natural very quickly.
Posted on February 18, 2009
leblogdeplus.com
Here are some tips that can help you in the future:
1. Admit you’re nervous.
Openly admitting that you’re nervous will make your audience more forgiving of any small mistakes or language slips you might make. Also, by sharing this discomfort with the group in front of you, you create a connection that, even if not necessarily perceived by others, will give you a little more confidence.
2. Invest in an effective support.
It’s always easier to give a presentation when the audience isn’t staring at you. A good way to make sure the audience isn’t focused on you, which could make you nervous: Accompany your oral presentation with an eye-catching PowerPoint presentation, or a handout for your audience.
If some people are looking at you, then glance at someone who has their nose buried in this document, so you don’t fixate on anyone’s eyes, which, if too intense, could disrupt your presentation and make you derail.
3. Reconsider your audience.
The people in front of you are there to listen to you. You’re the only one in charge. They may also be there to judge your work and presentation. So, challenge this underlying impression that these people are judgmental, uncompromising, and particularly harsh: They are people like you, who have lives not necessarily more exciting than yours. They wear underwear, just like you (I assume), and don’t see you as a nobody who has everything to prove. You have your personality and they have theirs. They should respect you and your work, and if they don’t, or if they don’t pay attention, they’re the idiots, move on.
4. Talk to one person at a time.
To forget the large number of people in your audience and not be overwhelmed by this mass of people listening to you silently, you can focus your attention on one person at a time. As if you were only giving this presentation to that one person.
It’s paradoxical: it’s obviously encouraged to let your gaze wander from one person to another, to appear more dynamic. However, if this “being more dynamic” translates to “I don’t know where I’m going, I’m looking everywhere” because of stress, then adopt a “slightly less dynamic” gaze!
5. Give your opinion.
It would be very easy to simply reproduce content you’ve read on a blog or in a book. Don’t hesitate to give your opinion! Do it spontaneously and unexpectedly. Your audience came to see you, not to see you read a book.
Moreover, giving your opinion will allow you to reach a level where giving a presentation is fun again. You will be more comfortable, speak more naturally, in your own words.
The art of presentation is complex but easily mastered. You know your text before you go on stage. What you may be lacking is far from insurmountable. It’s a behavior to be modified. Modifying this is particularly easy if you are able to identify what you need to aim for. If, the first few times, you consciously force yourself to act differently, this new behavior will become natural very quickly.
Posted on February 18, 2009
leblogdeplus.com
