TIP 1: Prepare! Prepare! Prepare!
This does NOT mean over rehearsing the presentation and trying
to remember every word within the right order. Even if you were a
good actor, this isn't the way to go about it. You’ll come across
unnaturally, and won’t have the ability to react to any reactions. However,
I actually do suggest that your critical first and last sentences are learnt
word perfect. It’s like flying a plane - take-off and landing are generally
very critical!
Now - what IS important is that you need to ensure you are totally
confident in these areas:
- You 100% know the structure of your presentation.
- Have fully rehearsed only the start and end from it.
- Have familiarised yourself together with your slides if you have them.
- Confident the gear will work!
- Understand how to answer the questions you guess the audience
will have for you. What are the MOST DIFFICULT questions
they could throw at you? Investigate the answer to those
Prior to the day!
TIP 2: Stay moist!
Any kind of public speaking or audio or video recording
causes presenters to “dry up” to ensure that their performance is
impaired. Drink some still water (Not fizzy, you might burp on stage!) before
your talk and some water by you during it.
TIP 3: Forget you're speaking to a large group.
Your listeners in the audience will like to consider you are talking to
them personally anyway. Suppose you are talking to only one
person; and say “you” in the singular tense throughout your
presentation. Never say “Hello everyone” and so on.
Even seasoned broadcast professionals play this mind trick to
acquire a personable, empathetic performance as well as so they
don’t get scared by taking into consideration the thousands or millions
listening or watching them!
TIP 4: During the “performance”, it’s important to relax, and
maintain a cool, professional approach.
If you’d rather takequestions at the end, say so at the start of your business presentation, or you’ll be distracted out of your structure by questions in the audience.
TIP 5: Get confidence!
For any business speech, get your CV or resume out and
remind yourself of who you are and what you’ve done! It’s
vital that you give yourself a logical assessment of the abilities and
experience.
You have real accomplishments and strengths, and by getting
good feedback externally world, your positive selfassessment
becomes fact.
TIP 6: Reinforce your confidence!
There are lots of “tricks” to create short-term confidence that
may work for you. This is something some theatrical actors use to
boost their confidence when browsing the wings ready to come
onto stage.
Nervous actors sometimes say to themselves:
“I am Beautiful”; “Everybody Loves Me” & “I know a Secret”.
Obviously, self confidence is the difference between feeling
unstoppable and feeling scared out of your wits. Your perception of
yourself has an enormous impact on how others perceive you.
Perception is reality - the greater self confidence you have, the
much more likely it is you’ll succeed. More about this later.
TIP 7: Dress smartly, but comfortably.
We're not more conscious of your characteristic look than you are. Whenever you don’t look good, it changes how you carry yourself and connect to other people. Use this to your advantage by taking care of your personal appearance. This doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot on clothes.
One great rule to follow along with is “spend twice as much, but buy half as
much”. Rather than buying a bunch of cheap clothes, buy half as
many select, high quality items that you feel comfortable in.
The secrets of how to give a great business presentation
TIP 8: Get and stay fit!
Along the same lines as personal appearance, physical
fitness includes a huge effect on self confidence. If you’re out of shape,
you’ll feel insecure, unattractive, and less energetic and
enthusiastic about what you’re talking about.
By visiting the gym, being active or playing sport, you’ll improve
your characteristic look, breathe more effectively, and energise
yourself. Having the discipline to work out not only makes you feel
better, it makes positive momentum to help you take new
experiences like public speaking in your stride. That is so
very important.
TIP 9: Enhance your posture.
People with slumped shoulders and lethargic movements display deficiencies in self-confidence. The look like they aren’t enthusiastic about what they’re doing plus they don’t consider themselves important either.
By practicing good posture, you’ll automatically feel more
confident. Operate straight, keep your head up, and imagine you
are a puppet on a string, being pulled up from the tip of the head.
Don’t forget to make eye contact with people; outwardly flirt with
people you fancy!
You’ll create a positive impression on others and instantly feel more
alert, empowered and confident.
TIP 10: If all else fails….
Accept your desire not to speak and accept your fears, but simply “go with it” and look toward having a treat of some kind afterwards. Just categorise the experience as something slightly unpleasant
and it will be over soon. BUT - it’s vitally important you keep these thoughts TO YOURSELF. Should you choose, most people find the speech goes very well, and even enjoy it, and wish to do it again for the thrill!
However, should you admit to the audience you're scared or
inexperienced; it puts them within an awkward position as well as
reinforces your worries to yourself, making the feared situation
happen in reality!
Still worried about building confidence?
Many people may find that any kind of public speaking or audio or
video recording causes them to “dry up” so that their performance
is impaired. During the “performance” it is important to relax, not
rush answers and gaze after a cool, professional approach.
Everyone is different, but maybe you’d take advantage of taking a walk
or having a long break before a media interview. The very last thing
you will need are immediate work worries in your thoughts before an
important TV, press or radio interview.
Keep in mind that during a recorded or live video or audio interview
you have to imagine that you are speaking with just ONE person; your key
imagined “ideal viewer / listener”.
If you begin to think about what you are saying going into thousands or
an incredible number of homes, it may seriously affect your confidence.
Even seasoned professionals play this mind trick to achieve a
personable, empathetic performance.
Preparation is the key to building your confidence; not only on the
subject to be discussed, but it is important to remind yourself on:
• Your background.
• Your talent.
• Your achievements.
• Your talents.
• Your strengths.
• The reason why you were accepted for your current job.
• The reason why you were chosen to talk.
Let’s visit again that mental trick some theatrical actors use to
boost their confidence when browsing the wings:
“I am Beautiful”; “Everybody Loves Me” & “I know a Secret”.
The ultimate one is easy to explain. The final time you knew some
“office gossip” first, might have given you a lot of additional confidence
to chat to others concerning the knowledge you had just discovered.
So, it’s exactly the same in a presentation…to repeat what I mentioned
above - YOU know something THEY don’t know. They would like to
hear what you need to say!
There’s your instant confidence! Best of luck!
Peter Baker is a professional voiceover with a BBC and ITV news background and has a broadcast quality studio in Cheshire, United Kingdom.
Check out his site at http://www.MaleVO.co.uk His e-mail is mail@peterbaker.tv
voiceover