Start Before You Start

A professional speaker I know likes to arrive early to an event to socialise with his audience before presenting. He has a coffee, chit chats and generally enjoys their company. This enables him to get to know people and he doesn’t feel he is going on cold. He senses he is talking to his friends. He relaxes into his presentation by seeking out these ‘friends’ in the audience and imagines having a one-to-one conversation with them.

Hiding The Shakes

If your hands are inclined to shake, avoid holding notes. When you shake, so does everything you are holding. Find something to set your notes on. Grasp the lectern, table or anything to keep those hands steady.

Playing To Your Strengths

Concentrate on using your strengths. If you have a good clear voice use it to your advantage. If you have a talent for storytelling, use anecdote. If you can make people laugh, use humour.

Act

Some people are helped by imagining themselves as a famous actor playing the part of a successful, powerful speaker.

Using A Checklist

Prepare yourself thoroughly and leave nothing to chance. Use a checklist to ensure you have considered everything (see Appendix 5).

Sweating And A Dry Mouth

If you sweat, you may want to wear a lightweight outfit. If you suffer from a dry mouth, it may help gently to bite the tip of your tongue or imagine yourself sucking a freshly cut lemon.

(Further suggestions for reducing anxiety can be found in Appendix 6.)

Somethings Are Impossible

Just as it is impossible for the tennis ball to go over the end line if you hit it with good top spin two feet over the net, so you are likely to find it is impossible to be nervous if you are well prepared, breathing deeply, feeling centred and thinking positively.

Summary

"Each of us has a strategy for feeling nervous.
We can break the anxiety cycle with positive programming.
Reversing the symptoms of anxiety minimises the feelings.
Focus on your audience rather than on yourself.
Breathing deeply will reduce anxiety."