What are the best ways to evaluate a speaker's nerves and anxiety during a presentation?

I agree with Ryan. Instead of focusing on how nervous a speaker may be, why don’t we applaud each speaker who is brave enough to get up on a stage, even when they are scared or anxious. To repeat a quote - being brave isn’t the absence of fear but acting in the face of fear. High five to all ?nervous“ speakers !!

There are plenty of tips to overcome nervousness but this question is about watching a speaker to determine how nervous they are. This is pointless and a dangerous area of study. If you want to know how nervous they are, ask them. Some speakers are incredibly nervous but you won’t notice it on stage. Some looks nervous but aren’t. They simply don’t know they have habits that make them look nervous. It is dangerous to assume we know a person’s nervousness level simply from watching them because too often we tie nervousness to a lack of credibility. We end up writing off important voices because we think they are afraid. A better question would be asking how we can listen better and appreciate messages of anyone.

One to watch for is a lack of pauses. Being comfortable with silence is a sign of a confident, or at least practiced, speaker. If someone rushes to fill any pauses then it's a good indicator of nerves. Learning to use pauses takes practice - even experienced speakers feel a pressure to fill silences. To get used to it when starting one way is to take a slow sip of water each time you need to put a pause in - it forces you not to speak to fill the gap and takes about the right time for a good emphasis pause.

Body language is one of the most direct ways to assess a speaker’s nerves and anxiety. When I was in business school, I took a class on presentations with some extremely brilliant students who were not accustomed to public speaking. Often, I could see telltale signs such as: -Wide “deer in the headlights” eyes. -Shortness of breath or hyperventilation. -Nervous fidgeting. Practice is one of the best ways to alleviate this. If possible, follow a rule of 7: -3 times to know the material or topic comfortably. -2 times in front of a friend or colleague to acclimate being in the presence of others. -1 time with a “disaster scenario” such as a technical problem with a slide deck. -1 time dress rehearsal on site.

I would recommend NOT analysing the speaker and their nerves. Many things can contribute towards an anxious talk, for many professional speakers the nerves will always be there and they lean into that. Listen to what they say, and feedback constructively. Were they talking too fast, did something need a little bit more explaining, did they make enough eye contact etc.

1. Body Language: physical cues like fidgeting, pacing, or excessive hand movements. These can indicate nervousness. 2. Audience Interaction: how the speaker interacts with the audience. Avoidance or excessive dependence on notes may signal anxiety. 3. Sweating or Shaking: physical signs like sweaty palms or visible shaking, especially in the hands or knees.

One of the most telling indicators is their breathing patterns. An anxious speaker might exhibit rapid, shallow breaths, audible sighs, or irregular inhales and exhales. On the other hand, consciously practicing slow and controlled breathing can significantly alleviate nervousness. By taking deliberate, deep breaths, a speaker can calm their nervous system, reduce tension, and enhance their overall composure. This deliberate act of mindfulness not only steadies the voice but also fosters a sense of calm and confidence, ultimately enabling the speaker to deliver their message with greater poise and effectiveness.

Mis 10 mejores consejos para ayudarte a ser un orador confiante: 1. Practica mucho (el consejo más importante). 2. Conoce a tu audiencia. 3. Organiza tu discurso. 4. Controla voz y lenguaje corporal. 5. Reduce nerviosismo a través de la respiración. 6. Muestra toda tu pasión y energía. 7. Graba tus presentaciones para poder saber áreas de mejora. 8. Siempre pide feedback. 9. Siempre que puedas usa el poder de contar historias 10. Apoyo visual lo más minimalista posible

In the speaker world, it is easy to confuse being nervous with being unprepared. I've been publicly speaking since my early 20s. Whatever nerves I may have had as a young speaker are long gone. Good preparation can neutralize even the slightest hint of anxiety. Many inexperienced speakers hide their nerves behind a text-intensive slide deck. They default to transferring their gaze to the screen and reading the copy on the screen verbatim. This scenario is more of a lack of preparation than actual nerves. A speaker can take the stage confidently, only to go off the rails as the presentation progresses. When a talk loses its coherence, the stage becomes an obstacle course, and the speaker loses the audience. That is not a win-win scenario.

The most common cause of stress in a presentation is the thought that you have to memorize every single word of a lengthy script of content. This fear of memorization creates more unnecessary stress when presenting. The fundamental things you need are: - A clear message (What do you want them to think, feel, and do?) - A strong outline (Intro, identify the problem, what needs to be done, and guidance forward) - Points/guidance to address their needs (Show that you understand me) - Relevance/assimilation (Does the audience think you understand them?) - A powerful close (Give me the strategy and light me up motivationally) A more outlined approach vs. scripted allows you to be more natural in your style and likable in your delivery.

I’ve worked with thousands of both nervous and very confident speakers who don’t organize presentations well. Preparation and practice reduces nervousness but organization doesn’t. Organization can be a facet of preparation but not for everyone. Knowing how to use organization and notes effectively will help anyone. But take into account that many cultures and environments have different presentation styles and not all use main points, sub-points, or a clear organizational structure. That doesn’t mean the speakers there are nervous. Articles like this are so surface level that they seem written by an AI bot. I suggest renting a basic public speaking textbook from a library or hiring a coach over using these LinkedIn “articles”.

La retroalimentación es la clave de una buena presentación. Y tiene que ser continua. Como orador, tu foco tiene que estar continuamente en los receptores. ?Les estás aportando valor? ?Están perdiendo la atención? ?Cómo puedes recuperarla? ?Cómo puedes con tu experiencia y tus conocimientos darles las herramientas que necesitan? ?Cómo puedes conectar más con ellos? Poner el foco en las personas, retroalimentarse continuamente con el feedback de su lenguaje verbal y no verbal ayuda también con la inseguridad o los nervios. Porque lo importante al presentar no es qué van a pensar ellos de ti. Lo importante es qué vas a aportarles tu a ellos.

Providing effective feedback involves being specific and balanced. When evaluating a speaker's presentation, point out their strengths, such as clear articulation or engaging storytelling. For areas needing improvement, be specific about behaviors like eye contact or pacing, avoiding vague statements like 'you seemed nervous.' Encourage them with positive reinforcement, acknowledging their efforts and progress. Additionally, offer practical suggestions, such as breathing techniques or mirror practice. Constructive feedback, when given in a supportive manner, helps speakers understand their challenges and motivates them to enhance their presentation skills with increased confidence.

A more useful question than how to evaluate nervousness is how to ease it: Gentle smiling (shows appreciation), nodding (shows agreement), note taking (shows engagement), and appropriate laughing (shows enjoyment) can go a long, long way in providing positive feedback that the speaker needs to lessen their anxiety.

Another way to help a speaker improve their feedback and reflection is to get feedback from the audience a few days later, where possible. A speaker tends to harshly critique themselves because they only have their perspective. Often, the audience may have enjoyed it, but the speaker does not know.

Consider the role the audience plays in a successful talk. Speakers look for cues of listening and support from the audience. Being a good crowd, pay attention, nod along, make eye contact. Take photos of interesting slides, ask questions.

Si estás ante una audiencia y quieres mantener la compostura para evitar posibles nervios, sería ideal poder conocer el nivel de dominio que tienen sobre el tema que vas a compartir. Lo deseable es poder hablar de algo sobre lo que sabes más, o al menos lo mismo que los que te escucharán. Si no les conoces, funciona muy bien que empieces haciendo una o dos preguntas para evaluar su conocimiento al respecto. La semana pasada di una conferencia sobre el impacto de la IA en el mundo laboral. Empecé por preguntar cuántas apps había además de ChatGPT, y si conocían el término dado a la acción de interactuar con la app. Las respuestas de la mayoría me ayudaron a situar el nivel de profundidad con el que debía de hablarles, y eso da confianza.

Embrace what are you embarking upon. If enjoy speaking to audiences and possess mastery over the content you will be speaking about, you will not feel nervous. If you are dreading the process, look for the positive elements inherent in the experience and focus on them. Try to have as much fun as you can.

Walking while speaking is the way to relieve nerves and anxiety during a presentation. Also explore the presentation room, before you start, you should walk at least 1 round in the room.