Back to: Effective Presentation Skills
Not many of us actively like giving presentations.
Most people feel neutral or slightly negative about them as a way of passing our short time on earth. Many of us become nervous at the prospect. One in five people has a fear of speaking that is acute enough to affect their performance. One in 20 is effectively paralysed by fear.
Fear in perspective
Fear is usually worst before the speech and right at the start, during the introduction. As you get into your stride and the audience responds, it recedes. This knowledge can help control apprehension: it will get better.
Nerves can be a good thing. They show that you’re keyed up and that your body and mind are ready to perform. We all want to do our best and not make a fool of ourselves.
It is hard to understand and define what is so scary about public speaking, which is one reason that it can be hard to deal with. Try to analyse and isolate specific fears that can be translated into problems to solve. What are you afraid will happen? What will be the consequences? What can you do to prevent that happening?
- Afraid visual aids won’t be clear – so fix them.
- Afraid not properly prepared or practiced – so prepare and practice
A lot of fear is to do with failing to meet our own high standards. It can help to recognise this as a positive motivating factor.
Another common factor is the fear of negative evaluation, which translates into a kind of fear of the entire audience. Remember:
- An audience is just a group of individuals. They respond to you no differently than they would in small groups or individually.
- Most audiences are supportive. They want to hear a good speech – they are rooting for you. They want you to be confident. They empathise with nervous speakers and this makes them feel embarrassed – so they want you to succeed.
- Try consciously to change the way you picture the audience from “critic” to “recipient” of your presentation, and your purpose from “perform” to “share”. You are talking with the audience, not performing for them.
- Centre your thoughts on hypothetical audience members who are sincere and responsive.