Presentation Skills - Beat the Fear and Enjoy Presenting

Presentation Skills – beat the fear and enjoy presenting!

Presentation skills aren’t something that you’re born with. They are something that you can learn.
After all, Barak Obama wasn’t born making speeches and Churchill started life with a voice impediment.
Presenting can be something you enjoy! And, as we all know, if you enjoy something it usually makes you better at it.
So rather than a vicious circle of nerves, fear and failure; by following a few simple techniques you can create a brilliant, friendly circle of fun, excellence and success. Presentation skills are simply the tools you need to enjoy yourself.
You can learn a great deal by working with a trainer, but here are a few presentation skills tips to deal with some common concerns and get you feeling confident.
1. Own the space – when a superstar enters, they own the room. If you arrive early get into the presentation room before your audience. Walk from front to back, walk round the edges. Have a look at the stage from the audience point of view. Make it yours. If you’re late and the crowd are waiting, do the same thing but with your eyes. Scan the presentation room; take in the details before you begin. Even if you feel nervous, you’ll start to make the space your own.

2. Don’t hold your breath – simple as that really. When you are anxious, your breathing becomes shallower; this affects your voice and drains the confidence from your presenting. Place your hand on your tummy button and breathe down deep. If it’s mid presentation, take a drink, give the audience a question to discuss, and send your breath down low. Steady your ship.

3. Relax your feet – another rapid fire remedy. The panic is rising, your voice is shaking and you’re hands are trembling. Stand still and relax your feet. Let go a little. Your feet are your foundation, let them take the weight. Trust us; it’ll make you feel better in a moment of panic.

4. Softly, softly – no one likes being glared at. So win you audience by making soft, gentle eye contact with them all. Think ‘scan the room’, not ‘stare them down’. You’ll make new friends that way.

5. You’re never alone- presenting is a two way communication. You don’t need to feel alone up there. Ask the audience a question to kick off, make it conversational, allow them to contribute and be happy not to know every answer.

By using a few of these tips your presentations will be on a surer footing, and you will be on the path to developing excellent presentation skills.