Working with Nervousness

Nervousness is Normal

• Learn to accept and work with your nervousness.

• Let it give you energy to plan the presentation.

• Let it give you energy during the talk.

• But control it!

Overcoming Nervousness :In the days before your talk . . .

• Rehearse with your visuals.

• Rehearse in front of people, if possible, and in the same space.

• Check all equipment.

• Replace negative self-talk with positive.

Practicing Answering Questions

• Brainstorm possible questions.• Practice answering questions as part of rehearsal

(ask a friend to help).• Practice responding to questions calmly. Don’t

assume that tough questions are hostile questions.• Q&A can be the most valuable part of the talk for you.

Overcoming Nervousness: The day of your talk . . .

• Try exercising before your talk• Avoid caffeine that day.• Get everything in order (prompt cards, visuals

on disk or on Web) and then relax!!

Relax just before your talk.

Consider using techniques like these:

• Deep breathing

• Positive mental imaging (similar to what sports coaches suggest) – visualize your talk as a success.

Positive Mental Imaging

More techniques . . .

• Word games and image games (to take your mind off yourself)– Say the alphabet backwards– Count the chairs in the room

• A tip from my experience:– Talk to people on your way up to the podium.

Delivering your talk

• Take a moment before speaking to get relaxed and adjusted to your audience.

• Remember, your audience wants you to succeed! – We’d much rather be listening to you than

reading some long report or set of instructions!

Tips for Presenting

• Stand with your feet far enough apart to feel centered. Don’t stand mostly on one leg or half-turned toward big screen.

• Breathe deeply whenever you can.• Notice which faces give you positive feedback and

look toward them often (but not exclusively). • Don’t be afraid to slow down or even fall silent for

a few seconds. We like the break!

Q and A

• Don’t assume that tough questions are hostile questions.– You’ve probably gotten someone really thinking!

– If question is long, offer to speak with questioner privately after the talk.

– If question is difficult, do not try to bluff an answer. Admit you had not “thought of [or studied] that.”

• Q&A can be the most valuable part of the talk for you.

Working with nervousness

• What are your techniques?

• Check resources on the Web:– articles from business advisors– newspapers– training materials– universities

Questions to ask as you watch your videodisk

• What is my greatest strength as a speaker? • What is the weakest part of my presentation?

Why?• What, specifically, can I do to improve?

– Exercises? Practice techniques? Organizational strategies?

• What should be the result of my improvement efforts in my next talk?

Recommendations

• Plan your talk– Organize– Repeat important information

• Rehearse– Get feedback ahead of time– Don’t try to wing it

• Create visuals immediately, rehearse with them, and then change them!!

• Relax and have fun