Overcoming Nervousness
Here’s what you can do to overcome nerves before you speak in public.
It is natural to be nervous before a public appearance. Every professional entertainer experiences some kind of “butterflies” before a performance. The symptoms are usually a nervous stomach, perspiring, shifting eyes, death grip on chairs . . .
What can you do about it?
- Practice a few relaxation exercises before you go on – rolling your neck, swinging your arms, stretching.
- Take a deep breath, hold it for three-five seconds, let it out slowly.
- Stand naturally with your feet shoulder-width apart, your hands loose and relaxed. Then shake your hands and arms, letting the vibration work itself into the rest of your body.
- Nervousness adds adrenaline to your system – it can make you sharper and quicker – use it.
- Think of nervousness as a way of ensuring that you are “up” for the presentation.
- The best way to combat nervousness is to come prepared for the situation by knowing your subject matter and the major points you need to make.
Where in the World is Anthony?
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Spent the day in Chennai, India working with a global manufacturer’s Asia Pacific leadership team. Presenting tip 52: Do something different (new topic, visual, hands-on exercise, etc.) every 7-12 minutes to keep an audience's attention.
Just finished day 3 in Shanghai, China working with two different global chemical companies. Headed to India next. PowerPoint Tip Number 1: Your audience can EITHER listen to you talk...OR... read your slides. Eliminate all complete sentences!
Working the next thee days in Shanghai, China. Crisis Communication Tip 6: Not being prepared to talk to the news media = No Comment. And No Comment = Perception of Guilt.
Spoke the past two days in Texas. Yesterday in Houston, and today in Austin, working with government leaders from The Great State of Texas. Communications tip 17: Drop the person's name in the middle of the message you most want him or her to remember.
Gave the opening keynote, and did a breakout session, this morning at a construction conference on Marco Island, FLA. Crisis tip 16: Slow momentum of crisis by dealing with it quickly. Deal with it quickly by having a crisis communications plan in place BEFORE you have the crisis