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True or False: the thing people fear more than death is making presentations!
If you picked true, you would be right. For many of us, making a presentation of any kind is the worst possible kind of punishment. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
It’s also true that not everyone can be the kind of motivational speaker that earns big bucks. But each of us has the potential for making the right kind of presentations for the right kinds of business situations – without feeling like you are going to pass out. Following these three rules will help.
1. Knowledge Is Power. Know why you are making the presentation in the first place. What is the audience expecting? How does this compare with the outcome you want? Making sure your message meets their needs will create a more hospitable atmosphere – and may help chase away the heebie jeebies you get when you are in front of a group.
2. Look For The Comfort Zone. Part of the fear in speaking comes from the unknown. So eliminate as much as you can. This includes knowing your subject inside out, the room where you will be presenting, the audience makeup, and technology. Besides practicing your content until you give the material in your sleep, you need to be prepared for questions that might be asked. By getting as comfortable as possible before the actual presentation, you’ll have some strength to draw on when it’s “Showtime.”
3. Take In A Movie. Still think about speaking in terms of the Beatles’ movie A Hard Days Night? If you need to make presentations for your work but still believe that for your, it will always be Nightmare on Elm Street, don’t despair. Think about he Beatles other movie and get some Help! Your audience will thank you and you’ll feel a whole lot better.
Copyright Randi B Enterprises, Inc., April, 2004. All rights reserved.
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