How do you deal with nerves or anxiety when relying on speaker notes?

1 Know your purpose

Before you write your speaker notes, you need to know the purpose of your presentation. What is the main message you want to convey to your audience? What are the key points you want to make? How do you want them to feel or act after listening to you? Knowing your purpose will help you focus your speaker notes on the most relevant and impactful information, and avoid adding unnecessary details or tangents that might confuse or bore your audience.

2 Write for clarity

Speaker notes are not a script, but a guide. They should help you remember what you want to say, not dictate how you say it. Therefore, you should write your speaker notes in a clear, concise, and conversational way. Use short sentences, bullet points, keywords, and cues that will jog your memory and keep you on track. Avoid writing long paragraphs, complex sentences, or jargon that might trip you up or make you sound unnatural. You can also use different colors, fonts, or symbols to highlight important points, transitions, or questions.

3 Practice with feedback

The best way to deal with nerves or anxiety when relying on speaker notes is to practice with them. Practicing will help you familiarize yourself with your content, improve your delivery, and identify any gaps or errors in your speaker notes. You can practice by yourself, in front of a mirror, or with a recording device, but you should also seek feedback from others. Ask a friend, colleague, or coach to watch your presentation and give you constructive criticism on your pace, tone, body language, and use of speaker notes. You can also ask them to simulate potential distractions, interruptions, or questions that might occur during your presentation.

4 Adapt to the situation

Even if you practice with your speaker notes, you might still encounter some unexpected situations during your presentation. For example, you might have technical issues, time constraints, audience reactions, or questions that require you to adjust your speaker notes. Instead of panicking or sticking to your speaker notes rigidly, you should adapt to the situation and use your speaker notes flexibly. You can skip, summarize, or add information as needed, depending on the context and the feedback you receive from your audience. You can also use your speaker notes as a reference, not a crutch, and look at them occasionally, not constantly.

5 Relax and enjoy

Finally, the most important tip to deal with nerves or anxiety when relying on speaker notes is to relax and enjoy your presentation. Remember that you are not alone, and that your audience is there to learn from you and support you. They are not expecting you to be perfect, but to be authentic, engaging, and informative. You can use some techniques to calm yourself before and during your presentation, such as breathing deeply, smiling, moving around, or visualizing success. You can also use humor, stories, or questions to connect with your audience and make your presentation more fun and memorable.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?