Worried about speaking/teaching/presenting in front of an audience? Here's the cure!

So, you have to put on a presentation in the near future…. Maybe your profession doesn’t require you to do much public speaking and you’re nervous about doing this. Or maybe you do some public speaking but you’re still kind of nervous about the whole idea.

The reasons why you’re nervous might vary – you haven’t done much public speaking; or perhaps you have to put on a presentation with new and unfamiliar material; maybe it’s a completely new audience you’ll be in front of; or it could be that maybe you’re delivering it via a different method (e.g., Skype vs. in-person).

Presenting virtually vs in-person is a subject I will leave for a different day.

But, I’ve done all kinds of public speaking, so I will address this day some of the things I’ve learned about doing so.

To begin with, I’d  offer up that everyone feels at least some level of anxiety before speaking in public. So, what you’re feeling is perfectly normal.

Secondly, whether you are a novice public speaker or you do so routinely, I would offer you that the best answer for giving a great presentation is – are you ready for this? – the same method as it’s been since probably the ancient Greeks first perfected the art of oratory; 

• BE PREPARED! STUDY! KNOW YOUR STUFF!
• Practice, practice, practice!

Yep. That’s alllll there is to it. Really.

A note of caution though; that’s also (in its own way) a very big tasking. If it’s only a speech-type of presentation you should know every key point of your talk and the supporting statements in it.

If it’s a training presentation, then you need to go beyond that and know as much as possible about each key point - as in well beyond those key points. That way you can anticipate audience questions and be better prepared to answer them.

Take note; being as familiar as possible with the material is only half the battle. The other half is practicing your presentation. Practice is, IMHO, every bit as important as the preparation.

Why? because it’s right here that you win the audience. It’s in the practice phase that you 1) become ultra-familiar with the material, its order and flow and when you are bringing what points to completion.

The practice phase is also where you perfect your tone, voice inflections, rhythm and – this is often overlooked but is quite critical – you learn where your vulnerabilities are. It’s THIS phase that allows you to make eye contact with your audience (and keep it) during your talk. Why? Because you are so familiar with the material and the order in which you’re presenting it – you’ve practiced it over and over and over again - that you know what’s coming and when it’s coming in the presentation.  So, you’re able to and comfortable enough to not stare at your speaker notes or the visual aids you’re using in your talk (If you’re using PowerPoint in your presentation, I’m lookin’ at you, here).

And…. If there’s any vulnerabilities in your talk, any emotional threats to your speaker voice, this is where you’ll discover it and prepare your defense to it.

Here’s an example of what I mean by a vulnerability; a few years ago, I was asked to deliver the eulogy at a funeral. Like every other talk I give or presentation I make, I made time in my schedule to rehearse this eulogy multiple, multiple times. That way I not only knew when to accent what, when to pause for effect etc so much that my delivery seemed utterly and absolutely natural, but also I knew when my voice was liable to crack with emotion.

What’s the “cure” for those vulnerabilities? Practice saying them – out loud – again, again, again and again and again. Does that remove the emotion? No. But, it helps you know when the vulnerable phrase is coming and helps you condition your voice to stay strong and natural during those particularly vulnerable phrases.

So, you have to put on a presentation in the near future…. And you’re nervous about it. Cut yourself some slack and remember that everybody feels somewhat nervous before speaking in public. Then make some time in your schedule to get as familiar with the topic list as you can. Then sequester yourself someplace private for a few hours and practice it – out loud, with gestures and increasing eye contact - as many times as possible.

If about now you’re thinking; “That doesn’t sound like public speaking, that sounds like actors memorizing and saying lines in a play.” To that, I’d say; “Yep. You’re right. Both situations utilize a lot of the same techniques.”

So, go! Prepare! Practice! Then give that presentation! You’ll do a smashing good job!