I remember a time when I used to freak out till insanity about presentations. I would trade anything to a presentation. A handwritten assignment or a group project was also doable. Anything but presentations. Now that presentations have become a normal feature for me, it freaks me out lesser. Definitely not till insanity. As you keep on doing them, the fear gradually lessens. This is what I’m going through. I presented the objectives of my life and how Masters in Management Studies will help me achieve my objective. It was the best presentation I’ve ever given. Sometimes, I fidget. Sometimes, I blank out. But sometimes, it’s just perfect.
These are the things I keep in mind before giving a presentation.
1. Learning:
I’m trying this new thing where I don’t rote everything. I just go on the stage and speak whatever I’ve understood. I have the basic outline of what I’m going to say. So, it becomes more natural. If I learn by heart and then skip something or blank out, then I’m doomed. So, I think, it’s always better to go unprepared but with some knowledge.
2. Body Language:
How you carry yourself in front of 70-80 people is crucial. Earlier I just used to fix a spot and stay glued to it the entire time. Now, I use my hands for gestures. I move around the class. I keep eye contact with the audience. At first, it sounded scary but now it’s almost normal.
3. Language:
At times, people tend to speak faster and end up messing with words. In that fast speed, people miss out a few words which makes the sentence meaningless. So it’s better to speak slowly with clarity.
4. Audience:
This is another trick I use to get confidence. It started off as a joke when my dad asked me to do it. But when I implemented it, it worked! So, here it is. Consider your audience as ignorant people who have no knowledge about the subject. If you think that way, it becomes a lot easier. Know your audience and trick them.
5. Keep Calm:
What’s the worst thing that can happen during a presentation? You’ll make a fool of yourself. But the bigger picture is that no one’s going to remember that. So just calm down. Nervousness is good but only if it’s within limits.
Hello! I'm Aishwarya, an Introverted bookworm & writer. I have been reviewing books since 6 years on my blog - Mindscape in Words. My favourite genres are Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thrillers, Magical Realism, Poetry, Fantasy & Memoirs. I like the kind of books which evoke emotions on several levels leaving me wrecked, but also incredibly content.
I'm dreaming for the world to paint a landscape full of words, more like Mindscape in Words. Hope you enjoy the view.
I like and usually follow your dad's advice. What you must be going through is stage fright. But with practice you will overcome. The basic funds of public speaking is thorough study and knowledge of the subject and the inner conviction that what you are talking is what is right for you and what you believe in. Mostly like story telling. It's a form of connecting and expressing yourself. Remember the audience is your area of influence. So you've got to be convincing. People can see through hogwash easily. Be natural and say what you wish to say without fear. Nice post and we all go through these phases
Just reading this and thinking about giving presentations makes my palms sweat. All of your points are great ones, and I think the more you do it the easier it gets, but yikes..note cards are my security blanket!
Wonderful post! Have a nice day:)
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Good job getting through it. Presenting can be so stressful!
I'm going to share with my senior classes I teach : )
These are great tips when preparing for a presentation! The more opportunities you have for public speaking, the more confident you become.
I like and usually follow your dad's advice. What you must be going through is stage fright. But with practice you will overcome. The basic funds of public speaking is thorough study and knowledge of the subject and the inner conviction that what you are talking is what is right for you and what you believe in. Mostly like story telling. It's a form of connecting and expressing yourself. Remember the audience is your area of influence. So you've got to be convincing. People can see through hogwash easily. Be natural and say what you wish to say without fear. Nice post and we all go through these phases
Just reading this and thinking about giving presentations makes my palms sweat. All of your points are great ones, and I think the more you do it the easier it gets, but yikes..note cards are my security blanket!
Thank you all for reading. 🙂