Ten Tips: Handling public speaking and presentation anxiety

culled from:http://communication.atwork-network.com

1. Know your content. It may seem like common sense, but if you thoroughly know the material you are presenting, you are more likely to be comfortable. So if you are speaking in public about a new topic, make sure you research it and feel confident that you have mastered the material. Think about questions your audience might have and make sure you have thought through your answers. Dr. Lisa A. Sisco, author of Strategic Communication, says that speakers who focus intensely on content preparation transfer “self-consciousness into other-consciousness” and minimize nervousness.
2. Know your audience. Understand who you are presenting to and what their interests might be. You should be able to answer this question: What in your speech or presentation speaks directly to the interests or needs of your audience? John Daly and Isa Engleberg in Presentations that Persuade and Motivate advocate getting to know some members of the audience before you speak.
3. Know your venue. If you can, check out the physical location for your speech or presentation in advance. There’s value in “knowing the room,” as you are likely to be more comfortable in familiar (or relatively familiar) surroundings. And arrive early so you make sure the small physical details (the height of the microphone, where you will place your notes or speech on the lectern, etc.) can be handled before you speak.
4. Rehearse. Practice your speech or presentation. Time yourself (remembering you are likely to speed up during actual delivery). Rehearse with colleagues so you get used to having others listening. You will find that your level of comfort and confidence rises as you become more and more accustomed to giving your talk. Jennifer Rotondo and Mike Rotondo, Jr. note in Presentation Skills for Managers that practice is “great insurance against stumbling over your words and making sure things go the way you hope they will.”
5. Visualize your successful presentation or speech. Visualization techniques can help your confidence and comfort level. Close you eyes and think about what a successful presentation would feel like; picture it in your mind. You may be surprised by how much more prepared this makes you feel.
6. Be prepared for any problems. While it is unlikely that you will encounter problems, it’s best to have a game plan. If you are using PowerPoint, have an alternative if the computer dies (arrange for a back-up machine) or the projector bulb burns out (makes sure the technical staff has an additional bulb). You should be prepared to give your presentation without overheads if worse comes to worst. Some speakers keep handy an outline of their talk on 3X6 cards as a back-up if there are technical issues. Being prepared for a worst-case scenario should make you much more relaxed.


7. Focus on friendly faces. When you begin your speech or presentation, look for friendly faces. Recognize that your audience wants you to be an effective presenter and that they are sympathetic and welcoming. As Toastmasters International counsels: “Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They don’t want you to fail.”
8. Relax physically so you can relax emotionally. Control your natural physiological response to stress (public speaking) and you’ll find yourself much more comfortable. “Use deep breathing exercises, muscular relaxation techniques, and positive self-talk to lower your pulse and make you feel calmer,” advises Deanna D. Sellnow in Public Speaking: A Process Approach. You may also want to have bottled water available if you get a dry throat when giving a speech. Remember: it’s natural to still have considerable nervous energy during a speech or presentation—and you can use it to keep yourself animated and enthusiastic.
9. Project enthusiasm and confidence. Audiences respond to confident speakers. You can show confidence by standing up straight, starting with a smile and speaking slowly and clearly. (Avoid apologizing for nervousness!) Don’t be afraid to be enthusiastic!
10. Trust your preparation.If you prepare properly, giving the speech or presentation should involve much less stress. You can present knowing that your talk has been tested through practice and rehearsal, that you know your subject and can answer any questions, and that you have back-up plans if anything should change.