5 Ways to Keep From Freezing Up Before Your Next Big Presentation

Honor Morris, BA, is an award winning broadcaster and Media Relations Consultant

It is often said that the human brain starts working the moment we’re born and never stops – until we’re asked to stand up and speak in public! Many of us freeze, lose our train of thought and even become physically unwell.  Public speaking is considered to be one of the scariest things that we may have to do in our lives.  Stage fright can take over our minds and bodies as most of us have this hidden fear of looking foolish in front of others.  It is important to understand the psychological aspects of your fear.  There are visualization techniques to help you overcome these fears and to assist presenters in finding the courage to use their voice.

1. Read the room and position your presentation to your audience.  It is equally important to deliver your presentation in a clear and concise way, as if you were explaining the topic to your grandmother.  Avoid getting too technical and using language that not all audience members may understand.  The audience needs to understand you and you need to understand your audience.
2. Recall a great presentation that captivated you.  Do you remember a speaker who really captivated you?  What was it about their presentation that made it so interesting?  How did that person hold your attention for an entire presentation while someone else can put you to sleep?
3. Tell a good story. When developing your narrative, be sure to hit the hot points while you are telling a story…everyone loves a good story.  Your message also needs to be delivered in the context and terms of your audience.  In other words, what is your key point?  Be sure to prove it and don’t forget to conclude it!
4. Be prepared.  You can never have enough hints and tips for delivering effective and dynamic presentations. Effective presentations require ample preparation, proper timing, key messaging and powerful delivery to keep your audience engaged and interested.  The art of storytelling can make a powerful impact to your presentation.
5. Manage the Q&A.  There is one part of a presentation that every presenter dreads…the very disruptive Q&A session. Just when you feel that you made it through your presentation without a glitch, clients and other members of your audience get the opportunity to fire questions at you.  Knowing some basic techniques for handling Q & A sessions will help keep you from coming unraveled.  It is imperative at this point of your presentation to handle the questions appropriately and to get your desired points across.  Visualization techniques will enable you to anticipate the questions and help you answer them while still getting your key point across in a clear concise manner.  There are decades worth of examples from politics, sports and show business that we can go back to and learn what to do and what not to do.

Join SMEI Vancouver on March 14, 2013 when Honor Morris, an award-winning broadcaster and oral coach, will pass on her hints and tips for delivering effective and dynamic presentations.