You're faced with unexpected public speaking at a team meeting. How will you conquer stage fright?

Unexpected public speaking can be daunting, but I have developed a few techniques to manage those nervous jitters. The moment I realize I am the unexpected speaker, I take a deep breath and engage in box breathing—inhaling for four counts, holding for four, exhaling for four, and holding for four. A quick sip of water also often helps to ground me. To structure my thoughts, I focus on three key points I want to convey. To make it more engaging, I try to connect each point to a relatable story or anecdote. This approach makes the presentation more interesting for the audience. While it is impossible to eliminate nervousness entirely, these steps have helped me deliver a confident and impactful speech, even when caught off guard.

To conquer stage fright during unexpected public speaking at a team meeting, focus on preparation and confidence-building. -Breathe and Pause: Take deep breaths to calm your nerves and collect your thoughts. -Outline Key Points: Jot down the main points to guide your speech. -Positive Self-Talk: Remind yourself of your expertise and value. -Engage with the Audience: Make eye contact and interact to ease nerves. -Go with the Flow: Only you know the script. If you miss or forget something, don’t panic. The audience doesn't know what you planned to say. When unexpectedly I am asked to speak in a meeting, I take a deep breath, outline my points, and engage with the audience. Going with the flow helps me stay calm and confident.

Here are some tips to conquer stage fright: Breathe Deeply: Take slow, deep breaths to calm your nerves. Focus on the Message: Concentrate on what you want to convey rather than how you feel. Engage with the Audience: Make eye contact and interact with your audience to build confidence. Practice Positive Visualization: Imagine yourself speaking confidently and successfully. Start with a Smile: A smile can help relax you and create a positive impression. Remember, it’s okay to feel nervous. Embrace it and use it to energize your speech.

Inhaling and breathing deeply helps to calm the body down, so that you can think and speak clearly again. Reviewing the presentation a few times before will help to reduce this fear.

There are always multiple flow of thoughts in any situation but making our mind hold on for 1 or 2 good lines which can be connected to the real time examples or situations can give an impactful impression to the listeners. There always be better points to convey but i feel structuring the points to the listener in his tone of analysing can be the best way to reach the audience mind and heart rather than just hitting the ears is my personal view.

The most important thing in a public meeting - unexpected or planned - is to focus on how one can add value for the audience rather than what I can get out of this opportunity. The moment we shift the attention to others, from ourselves, we then also reap other benefits which help us to engage more effectively with others. For example, the fear and anxiety levels go down substantially, our voice and body language is ridden with confidence and conviction, and being more in the here and now we are able to connect with the audience with higher trust and respect. So, the main challenge for the speaker is to move the needle of focus and attention away from self and towards creating value for the audience.