Making a speech? Do your knees knock at the prospect and your palms get sweaty and cold? You are not alone. Many people have a fear of public speaking and at very least a few nerves. When you’re anxious, you can fumble, mumble or forget what to say.
So avoid these mega mistakes:
1. Getting ready at the last minute
Waiting until the morning of a speech/presentation to gather together all the items you need, is a risky business. You may suddenly find something vital isn’t there.
Draw up a checklist of things you’ll need for talks and presentations. You can keep many of those items on the list at the ready and ‘topped up’. Run through it 2 or 3 days before to be sure. Do you have the mobile numbers of your key contact? Get completely ready the night before: Is your phone charged? Have you checked the weather? You won’t want to get drenched o the way.
2. Arriving at the last minute
Running late is in itself a cause of stress & you hardly need that when you’ve a message to get across calmly and confidently.
Plan to arrive well before the start, at least 20 minutes, more if it’s presentation with audio-visual aids.You’ll want to check it’s been set up, that the PowerPoint works. You may want to check what’s where in the building if it’s unfamiliar and to attend to your own needs, like a drink (though definitely not alcoholic!
3. Standing alone in a corner waiting to startThis may give you time out and time to go over your lines, but it creates more of an ‘us’ and ‘them’ feeling and can feel alienating.
Try actively engaging with others, greeting and chatting, with organisers, other speakers as well as with your listeners. Give your voice a chance to loosen up.
4. Shaking your notes!
Don’t hold your papers if you’re nervous. They’ll shake and rattle, distract your listeners and draw attention to your nerves. Likewise don’t hold them up so high that you partially cover your face – the audience wants to see you. Nor do you want to clutch them in desperation.
Place your notes on the lectern, desk or whatever else is provided and glance down at them occasionally, as a prompt.
5. Don’t write so small that you have to squint
Writing your notes in tiny print, bunched up together, or in continuous script, will make it hard for you to read or glance at.
Write clearly, with bullet points & paragraphs, easy to see and to follow at a glance. Use headings and boxes and colour codes, such as green highlighter for ‘must say’ and pink for ‘could say’.
6. Finally, don’t fall off your plinth! It’s advisable not to wear new shoes, especially high heels, to make a speech or presentation. You could literally trip yourself up. Likewise it is best not to wear a new outfit or suit, specially bought for the occasion. Jewellery that dangles and rattles and clinks is also distracting.
Wear something comfortable and appropriate, that looks good and you feel good in. It will feel more natural and put you more at your ease. You never know if those new shoes are going to squeak or new outfit is going to crease.
Make sure you can move about easily in what you’re wearing and sit or stand for a time without a pinching feeling in your feet, yet it will also reflect the appropriate level of authority for the occasion.
These are a few of many easy-to-act-on steps to take into account if you, like so many, are nervous about giving speeches and presentations.
Watch this space for more tips. You will also find ideas and guidance on my website.
