Public Speaking or Making a Presentation at Work

 

Public Speaking or making presentations at work

You are standing in the wings ready to make your presentation or on stage shaking like a leaf. You know the feeling, just before you have to make that presentation and make that public speech. Most people fear death less than public speaking can you believe? It’s true though.

It’s not a nice feeling, but sometimes it’s just part of the job and you just have to do it, make that presentation. Your palms become sweaty and your heart begins to race. This is it…Oh no, I have to deliver this presentation in front of all those people.

The question is, how are you going to deal with it? If you don’t want to flunk it and risk looking foolish.

The first thing to realize is that nerves are normal for everyone and can help heighten your delivery and performance with your presentation. What you don’t want is your presentation ruined by your nerves, making you seem like an amateur.  You want to be good and you want your career to continue on an upward trajectory.

The second thing is when you become nervous all your attention focuses on you. Worry about failure and foolishness surface and that sinking feeling grips you with fear. This means you are not focused on the presentation or the facts. After all, you are like an actor getting ready for a play.

The trick is to become concentrated on something. Doing this occupies your mind with something other than the presentation helping you to relax. Try thinking that all the people sitting waiting your delivery are in their underwear or pick someone out in the crowd you know perhaps and think about talking to them only as if you were just having a conversation.

There is no need to suffer from any kind of nerves when making a presentation if you can learn to relax.  That is the key to making a good delivery. You know you know your stuff and your boss thinks you are good enough to make this presentation. You have to believe it and relax.

Think of yourself as an actor going into a major part and treat it as fun. When your fear begins to go you will find yourself actually enjoying your presentations after that.

 Contributor: FD