If you tend to get nervous about presentations, you’re not alone. Research shows that an estimated 75 percent of the population experiences presentation anxiety. Whether you’re presenting internally to your leadership team, or you are pitching in front of potential buyers, stress is common before stepping into the spotlight.
While it’s important to be sure you clearly convey your message, there are some things not worth worrying about. Joel Schwartzberg, an author and public speaking trainer, says that it’s not your job to be enjoyed, admired or remembered, but to inspire your audience to take action. This means you shouldn’t worry so much about the wrinkle on your shirt or your joke that fell flat.
Wondering if you might be worrying about the wrong things during presentations? Read on. In this issue of Promotional Consultant Today, we highlight Schwartzberg’s six things you can stop stressing about during presentations.
1. How you look. Professional attire is still important during presentations, but don’t worry so much about the color of your tie or if your hair is frizzy that day. Schwartzberg even discourages speakers from practicing in front of mirrors. This is because no one looks at their reflection and asks, “Am I making my point effectively?” And that’s the most crucial consideration of all, says Schwartzberg.
2. How you sound. It’s nice to vary your tone and pace throughout your presentation, but this isn’t something you should stress about, according to Schwartzberg. It’s more important to focus on reinforcing your points than trying to make your voice sound interesting with forced ups and downs.
3. Being perfect. Remember that a presentation is just that – a presentation. It’s not a competition and no one is deducting points for fumbling over a word or experiencing technical difficulties. It’s a good idea to limit crutch words such as “ah” or “um,” says Schwartzberg, but your audience knows you are human and will make allowances when you do human things.
4. How entertaining you are. Communicators should be funny, witty and engaging, right? Not unless they are also successful at delivering their message. At the end of your presentation, you don’t want your audience thinking of you—you want them to be thinking anew, says Schwartzberg. Instead of stressing about making your audience laugh, make sure you’re using the right language to convey your point.
5. Your qualifications. If you’re presenting to clients or prospects, you may feel like you need to explain your credentials. However, remember that you have credibility by being invited to the meeting. Your audience wants to hear what you have to say—you don’t need to prove your value by sharing your history. It’s best to get to your point as efficiently as possible, and not delay it by sharing your resume, says Schwartzberg.
6. Something you forgot to say. Almost everyone who has ever given a presentation has forgotten to mention a detail or portion of their speech. But you shouldn’t stress if you forgot to say something. This is because your audience didn’t know you were supposed to say it. Remember that your primary job is to convey the idea or ideas you want to stick with your audience.
Presenting can be stressful. While it’s normal to feel nervous before a presentation, you can let go of some things that may worry you. The goal isn’t to show up perfectly polished and deliver a flawless speech—it’s to motivate your audience.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Joel Schwartzberg is a communications executive, public speaking trainer and author of Get to the Point! Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter.
