How can you overcome nervousness and anxiety when pitching to clients?

In my experience, identifying what you struggle with before you go into a pitch is handy to know so you can practice what is the hardest, so it becomes natural. Obviously in the scenario when you're starting to flounder like a fish out of water, you need to think smart and act smart. "May I just put you on hold for 1 minute please? I'd just like to check something about what we are talking about?" "Sure." "I really appreciate it." I have been known to check with someone at this point if the information required into the CRM is how it works and where to put the details, before getting back to the customer and Thanking them for holding

Combat nervousness during client pitches by thorough preparation, controlled breathing, and visualizing success. Focus on conveying your expertise and the value you bring. Confidence stems from readiness, helping you navigate presentations with composure and leave a positive, lasting impression. Knowledge really is power.

1. Confidence 2. Confidence 3. Confidence It is imperative to understand and know yourself first, this will help you to identify and eliminate the FEAR that consumes. Also, if you are 'pitching' a product it is likely you will have no personal value testimony to give regarding the product or service. QVC/HSN, that is pitching a product method, respectfully. If you are 'selling' a product or service, the nervousness you are likely to experience is just good old-fashioned butterflies.

Pitching can be daunting for us all! However, really all you’re doing is understanding the pain points and needs of the potential and seeing how your product or solution and benefit them. When pitching you need to know your business inside and out, with examples of not only what you can do to help them, but also the effect it can have on their business if they implement your product/solution. Test your technology ahead of time, have trial runs and know what you want to say. It’s always good to know the main points you want to cover and letting your pitch flow based on your conversation so it’s not overly scripted. The age old saying of ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’ still rings true today.

So. be prepared. Easier said than done, I have in my experience, learned about the product before delving into the well and looking to keep the customer in my sights. Blahing on about what you know isn't enough, you have to engage a 2 way conversation. So make sure and I have, read about the product and be ready to push that pitch with all the information you have at hand.

Practice, practice, practice, practice, practice. I just finished Arnold Schwarzeneger’s new book “Be Useful” and he would practice his Governor speeches 20 times before delivery. This helps 1) lock in the speaking points in your brain and 2) allow you to present more naturally since you are comfortable with the talking points. I always say… it’s way easier to give a 10 min talk on your family vs a 10 min talk on a random topic because you KNOW your family… it’s easy. KNOW your content, and public speaking becomes easy.

Before going onto that conversation, I used to practice it with a colleague, being the first time i would often say, so "How is your day? (ans) Are you aware of ?? (ans - yup) GREAT! Can you share that with me please? (asn - OK) I understand you know about x y and z and what I want to add to it is that A, B and c can be added to the package you are on, and for that there is small extra fee of..." How does that sound? I would ask my colleague. Its good to practice in a face to face environment. With a colleague you get instant feed back, in a mirror you got to concentrate!

I love doing an NLP exercise with my clients called future pacing. Its brilliant at taking anxiety out of an unknown future event by using the power of visualisation. If you live through the pitch in your brain its the same as doing it for real... so you do it first in a safe environment - your imagination and build from there. Its so powerful and its getting fantastic results.

Making any speeches in the past has been spent with a 30 minute meditation beforehand. It has helped alot to feel relaxed and good within before coping with 100 eyes staring at you or going onto the phone to sell coals to newcastle. Whatever you do, stay focused and forget the nerves, they just slip away the more confident you become within when you're making that deal.

"So, do you know what you're looking at? Does the company come up to your standards? I would focus on the client's knowledge before plummeting in and telling them what they already know. Don't want to look completely egged!

Know your story. Recording yourself on voice notes can be a powerful tool to listen to your story as practice. Not to remember the script verbatim but to remember your story points as second nature.