Silencing the voice in your head

I suspect we've all made acquaintance with our personal little voice that likes to share its opinion as to how well we're performing when giving our presentation. Sadly, this voice thrives on providing negative comment. It also uses up vital mental bandwidth that should be reserved for engaging with the audience and thinking on your feet. If we listen to it, agree with it and let its voice grow ever stronger we'll never enjoy the presenting experience.

Understanding what's happening:

You would be an odd person (or a liar) if you said you had no nerves when about to deliver an important presentation. Realise that the “nerves” you feel is just adrenaline in your system. Knowing what it is allows you to expect and then not be taken prisoner by them. As any sportsman/actor/performer knows this adrenaline goes with the territory and should be used to enhance performance. Anticipation rather than anxiety is the desired emotion. Never verbalise how you're feeling to your audience as this just serves to reinforce the reason for your nerves to you and lower expectations for them. Neither are a good thing!

Let the voice know that you're in control:

The best way to silence the voice is to prepare and rehearse properly. It's been said that a person's fear of presenting is more accurately described as a fear of preparation. Preparation involves doing the correct planning to ensure that you really know your audience and what's important to them. How will you help them? Making sure you have structured the presentation to achieve your objectives and that the deck is a visual one that is easy to understand. Then REHEARSE! The single most effective thing you can do is rehearse purposefully – out loud and recording yourself.

Ernest Hemingway — 'The first draft of anything is shit.'

Now go away and improve upon what you say and how you say it. The voice grows quieter when it knows it can't say that you're unprepared.

Change your mindset:

It is not about you, it is about them. You are only there to help your audience. You know things that they don’t but which they would benefit from knowing. Deliver your presentations in the spirit of giving and sharing. And that includes sales presentations.

If they don’t understand your message it's your fault and your problem. Pause to allow them time to process the new info you’ve delivered. Make eye contact. Be genuinely interested in them and their issues and they will reciprocate that interest. You are not on trial but your ability to help is.

Nail your opening (and know your close):

The most stressful moments for presenters are the 2 minutes before you start and the 2 minutes after you start. You must start strongly. Know exactly what you will say to open when the adrenaline rush is highest. Say your opening line to yourself one final time just before you start your presentation. Do not deviate from this opening. Know how you intend to close although this may change if during the course of the presentation new audience information comes to light. You have to be flexible and adapt accordingly.

Lighten the load:

If you can plan in some interaction with the audience fairly early on it lessens the pressure on yourself. But only do it if it makes sense for the audience/objective. Don’t pose right-or-wrong/tricky questions at this early stage. Response will be poor as they feel threatened and haven't warmed up yet. A simple 'show of hands' type approach may well work better.

Practical tips:

You can include content that may be needed behind your last slide. Have an 'outline' printout with you to help navigate this.
There’s nothing wrong with having some notes with you. They must be subtle and you should intend not to use them. Never find yourself in a position where you are dependent on them.
Have a bottle of non-fizzy water with you. Sip at sensible junctures e.g. when video is running or someone else is talking.
If timings/practicalities allow then take some exercise on the day of presentation. This will help reduce adrenaline in the system. (Not the most scientific explanation possible!)

And finally...

You may like to check out previous newsletters on the subject of presenting. You can do this by going here. Once there, click on 'Past Issues' and you're laughing!