As a young boy growing up in Ohio, USA, I remember the motto of the Boy Scouts: “Be Prepared”. Being prepared meant to make sure you had all that you might need for any given scenario: from raincoat and boots, to snakebite first aid, to tools and know-how to build a fire in the rain. To be without these when faced with adversities could have dangerous consequences.
As a presenter, being prepared will also be your greatest defense against the nervousness and unpredictability you are sure to face. Here are a few tips that I have picked up which can help you the next time you are getting ready to present or speak.
The first thing you can do is to prepare your notes and material. This means giving yourself adequate time for selecting and developing all of the parts of your presentation, including introduction and conclusion, support materials, audio visual aids. Each component takes time. Give extra time to work on your first 3-5 minutes, when both you and the audience are more anxious.
Can you remember every detail of what you are going to say? Yes, that is possible, but you don’t need to be a memory guru to give a good presentation. An easier way is to make notes that capture primarily key words and concepts. Mind mapping is a great tool for presenters as it allows you to see main ideas, sub-ideas, and their relationship to each other, in a colourful, visual format. I make an overall A4 map of my entire topic, and then I make smaller 5x7 cards with mini mind maps of specific topics which I keep at hand for quick reference. Just the process of making the mind maps allows me to feel more confident when delivering new material.
We can also learn to prepare and make better use of our body. Our caveman ancestors would feel a rush of blood and accelerating pulse when faced with a giant predator. This was a very useful response, which our bodies have devised to meet challenges that require us to “rise to the occasion”. We still experience this “fight or flight” response before we are to take the stage. We can learn to accept this extra energy as a natural response to the unknown. In addition, we can learn to harness that energy for our success. One useful technique, which we may often forget under pressure, is simply to breathe. Deep diaphragm breathing- where you push out fully the area just below your navel-will help you to harness some of that energy and to calm the butterflies. Do this before you stand up to present, and just before you speak. And here is a tip: just before you are to take the stage, do this deep breathing combined with some powerful physical movement, such as jumping in place, or making a “Tiger Wood-esque” fist pumping, and a smile. This helps to centre that energy into what Tai Chi practitioners call your “tan tien”, and to put yourself into what Anthony Robbins calls your “peak state”. Just be sure that no one is around at the time, unless you are prepared for provocative looks.
Another way to leverage on the energy in your body is to move around. I’m sure we’ve all been subjected to a presenter who seems to have become “one” with the lectern, standing behind it gripping both sides only to break the bond with an occasional raised hand. This speaker has lost the use of one of his best tools- the gesture. Beware of the lectern. I move it away from its usual prominent place on a stage. This gives me the flexibility to move about, and tells the audience that I am more available to them. Here is another tip: Try using a simple music stand positioned in the centre of the stage to hold your notes on rather than a lectern. It is friendlier than the formal lectern and can serve the same purpose.
Have you ever seen someone present so eloquently and naturally? It is because they have practiced. Prepare your delivery. This is where a video camera can be your best friend. If you don’t have a video camera, try with your child, spouse, or even a mirror. One speaker said he practices with a clock. It has a face, possibly more movement than some of the audience, and it allows him to time his delivery! I sometimes practise with my 9-year-old daughter. It allows me to practise in a lighthearted way, and creates a fun experience where she can also be the teacher.
Presenting and speaking is an Opportunity – to share, inspire, and instruct others. It is also an opportunity to grow you, and to become a leader. Through overcoming our fears and doing a fantastic job in our delivery, we create a platform for others to do so as well.
Article Contributed by Tim Hamons, Consultant of Training Edge International
Email : tim@trainingedgeasia.com
Website : www.trainingedgeasia.com
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