Everyone feels a surge of energy and butterflies at the beginning of a presentation. For some, the nervousness can be overwhelming and last through the entire presentation! There are a variety of effective techniques to control nervousness (and no, they do not include imagining the audience in their underwear.) It’s a matter of experimenting and seeing which technique will work best for you.
- Extend your eye contact – Don’t let the audience turn into a blur; talk to them, not at them. Say at least a sentence or two to a particular person, then look for him or her to nod before you move on to the next person. Use your eye contact to turn your presentation into a series of one-on-one conversations.
- Ask a question of the audience – Asking a question at the beginning of your presentation can help you calm down if you’re feeling nervous. You might choose an open-ended question you can ask in the first few slides. This will also help you make a connection with your audience.
- Start with an icebreaker – Sometimes it can be helpful to comment on an earlier presentation, or something from lunch or the evening before to break the ice before you start a presentation. This can help you relax, connect with the audience and be conversational from the very beginning. Do not tell a joke if you’re not good at it!
- Positive self-talk – Do not allow yourself to think, “I’m a poor presenter”, or “I hate presenting.” Shut down any negative thoughts and replace them with, “I’m smart and effective in my job. I know my topic and they are lucky to hear me speak about it today.” A deep fear of presenting isn’t easily erased with a little positive self-talk, but it’s an important first step.
- Breathe and visualize – Some people find it helpful to breathe deeply before they begin a presentation and visualize themselves in a relaxing environment or doing something calm and enjoyable (e.g. walking on a beach).
Anne Linehan Consulting 