Saturday, 1 November 2008
Sunday, 6 July 2008
Avoiding Stage Fright
Whether you're giving a business presentation or delivering a soliloquy onstage, stage fright can rear its ugly head. The fear of getting stage fright can itself cause stage fright to strike you dumb. Don't be afraid of stage fright. Just keep the next several tricks in mind, and you'll be ready for anything. (Unless you get so nervous that you forget the tricks.)
Write out your intro and conclusion
The student was 6 feet, 2 inches tall. He was standing in front of the class, preparing to start his speech. You could tell he was nervous by the way he gripped the podium; the color had drained from his hands. He started to speak. He got out a few words, and then he fainted. As he fell to the ground, the podium went down with him. He never let go.
The student was in a class taught by speech expert Allatia Harris. She says that the incident is a perfect example of why she advises speakers to write out the introductions to their presentations. "Nervousness is most intense just before you start talking," she says. "You see all those people looking at you, and words start coming out of your mouth, but your mouth's not connected to your brain. You may not even be aware of what you're saying." Give special attention to the introduction. You need to have it down cold so you don't fall down cold.
Similar preparation should be given to the conclusion — the second most anxiety-producing part of a presentation.
Double-check the order of your visuals
You can't check your visual aids too many times. Much of the anxiety associated with presenting comes from the fear that the visuals will screw up. The more you check them, the more confident you are.
Double-check your equipment
Many people worry about their computers, projectors, and other equipment. Take the extra few minutes to check them to make sure they work properly. Then you can stop worrying.
Anticipate problems, and have solutions ready
Anticipate any problem that may arise, and have a plan ready to deal with it. For example, whenever you stumble over a tongue-twisting name or phrase, you can have an all-purpose recovery line ready. "Let me try that again — in English."
What if you forget what point you were going to cover next? You can buy time by asking the audience a survey question that requires a show of hands. Or you can review what you've already covered. Or you can skip ahead to a different point.
What if you have an equipment failure? Bring spare supplies — an extra light bulb for the projector, an extra marker for the flip chart, an extra battery for the laptop. You get the idea.
Get to the site early, when possible
Fear of the unknown probably produces more anxiety than any other cause. Until you get to the site where you're presenting, you face a lot of unknowns. Is the room set up correctly? Did they remember to give you an overhead projector? Is an audience actually going to show up? Plenty of little questions can add up to big sources of stress if you don't have answers for them.
You can get the answers simply by going to the room, so do it early — at least an hour before you present. That extra time allows you to correct any mistakes and calm down. You also get a chance to meet members of the audience who arrive early, which can reduce stress by making the audience more familiar to you.
Divide and conquer
Many presenters who suffer from stage fright claim that only a large audience triggers their fear. A few people? No problem. A big group? Forget it. Try this: Look at one face in the audience at a time — especially faces that appear interested in what you're saying. Keep coming back to them. (No, normally you shouldn't stare at only a few people. But stage fright creates an exception. If the only way you can prevent yourself from passing out is to look at only a few people, then do it. Just don't stare at only one person for the entire time.)
Don't apologize for nervousness
Many presenters feel compelled to apologize for being nervous. Don't apologize for making a mistake, flub, or goof-up. Just let it go. You don't want to draw additional attention to your nervousness. As Allatia Harris says, "Never apologize to the audience unless you've injured someone."
Watch what you eat
Everyone's heard that you are what you eat. Maybe and maybe not. But here's some food for thought — what you eat before you present will affect your anxiety level. So avoid drinking coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages before you go on. You'll be jittery enough without the added stimulation they supply. You also probably want to avoid carbonated beverages unless you're giving a presentation about burping.
Have water handy
One consumable that you should have available is water. If anxiety dries out your mouth or you're overwhelmed by negative emotions, pause and take a sip of water. And if you're thirsty? You know what to do. Just make sure that you don't drink all your water within the first 30 seconds of your presentation. Remember, don't drink too much water, or you may have to make a mad dash to the restroom — not something you want to do during your presentation.
Keep your breathing even
Write out your intro and conclusion
The student was 6 feet, 2 inches tall. He was standing in front of the class, preparing to start his speech. You could tell he was nervous by the way he gripped the podium; the color had drained from his hands. He started to speak. He got out a few words, and then he fainted. As he fell to the ground, the podium went down with him. He never let go.
The student was in a class taught by speech expert Allatia Harris. She says that the incident is a perfect example of why she advises speakers to write out the introductions to their presentations. "Nervousness is most intense just before you start talking," she says. "You see all those people looking at you, and words start coming out of your mouth, but your mouth's not connected to your brain. You may not even be aware of what you're saying." Give special attention to the introduction. You need to have it down cold so you don't fall down cold.
Similar preparation should be given to the conclusion — the second most anxiety-producing part of a presentation.
Double-check the order of your visuals
You can't check your visual aids too many times. Much of the anxiety associated with presenting comes from the fear that the visuals will screw up. The more you check them, the more confident you are.
Double-check your equipment
Many people worry about their computers, projectors, and other equipment. Take the extra few minutes to check them to make sure they work properly. Then you can stop worrying.
Anticipate problems, and have solutions ready
Anticipate any problem that may arise, and have a plan ready to deal with it. For example, whenever you stumble over a tongue-twisting name or phrase, you can have an all-purpose recovery line ready. "Let me try that again — in English."
What if you forget what point you were going to cover next? You can buy time by asking the audience a survey question that requires a show of hands. Or you can review what you've already covered. Or you can skip ahead to a different point.
What if you have an equipment failure? Bring spare supplies — an extra light bulb for the projector, an extra marker for the flip chart, an extra battery for the laptop. You get the idea.
Get to the site early, when possible
Fear of the unknown probably produces more anxiety than any other cause. Until you get to the site where you're presenting, you face a lot of unknowns. Is the room set up correctly? Did they remember to give you an overhead projector? Is an audience actually going to show up? Plenty of little questions can add up to big sources of stress if you don't have answers for them.
You can get the answers simply by going to the room, so do it early — at least an hour before you present. That extra time allows you to correct any mistakes and calm down. You also get a chance to meet members of the audience who arrive early, which can reduce stress by making the audience more familiar to you.
Divide and conquer
Many presenters who suffer from stage fright claim that only a large audience triggers their fear. A few people? No problem. A big group? Forget it. Try this: Look at one face in the audience at a time — especially faces that appear interested in what you're saying. Keep coming back to them. (No, normally you shouldn't stare at only a few people. But stage fright creates an exception. If the only way you can prevent yourself from passing out is to look at only a few people, then do it. Just don't stare at only one person for the entire time.)
Don't apologize for nervousness
Many presenters feel compelled to apologize for being nervous. Don't apologize for making a mistake, flub, or goof-up. Just let it go. You don't want to draw additional attention to your nervousness. As Allatia Harris says, "Never apologize to the audience unless you've injured someone."
Watch what you eat
Everyone's heard that you are what you eat. Maybe and maybe not. But here's some food for thought — what you eat before you present will affect your anxiety level. So avoid drinking coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages before you go on. You'll be jittery enough without the added stimulation they supply. You also probably want to avoid carbonated beverages unless you're giving a presentation about burping.
Have water handy
One consumable that you should have available is water. If anxiety dries out your mouth or you're overwhelmed by negative emotions, pause and take a sip of water. And if you're thirsty? You know what to do. Just make sure that you don't drink all your water within the first 30 seconds of your presentation. Remember, don't drink too much water, or you may have to make a mad dash to the restroom — not something you want to do during your presentation.
Keep your breathing even
Preparing for a Virtual Presentation
The key to a successful virtual presentation is the same as the key to a successful face-to-face presentation: preparation. Consider the following guidelines to ensure that you're ready for your virtual presentation.
Knowing which nonvirtual rules apply
Always remember that a virtual presentation is still a presentation. The following basic rules for making an effective presentation apply:
Identify the purpose for the presentation. Make sure you know why you're presenting. No one wants to hear a presentation, virtual or otherwise, that has no real purpose. Identifying the purpose of your presentation is critical for knowing how to construct it and deliver it.
Know your audience. Find out as much as possible about your audience. .
Organize your presentation. Choose a pattern that suits your topic (for instance problem and solution; past, present, and future; theory and practice; or whatever works). Make sure that your audience can easily follow your message. .
Write an introduction and conclusion. Just because a presentation is virtual doesn't mean it doesn't need an opening and a close. The introduction has to preview and lead into your talk. The conclusion has to wrap it up.
Provide materials in advance. This allows audience members to become familiar with the proceedings beforehand and get more out of them. You can easily distribute materials via e-mail. Consider giving out the following:
• Agenda: The audience wants to know what will happen and when.That's the purpose of an agenda. So provide one. An agenda makes it easier for audience members to keep track of the presentations.
• Support material: Providing support materials such as presentation notes and outlines in advance also helps attendees get more out of your presentation. These can be sent easily and cheaply through e-mail.
• PowerPoint slides: For presentations given on the Web, it may be smarter to distribute PowerPoint slides beforehand rather than using PowerPoint during your presentation. .
• Contact information: A list of all audience members' names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses should be distributed so that they can reach one another in the event of a technical problem.
Check the room(s). It's standard advice to check the room in advance of a presentation. You want to make sure that it meets your needs: Check to be sure that it has enough seats for the people participating in the meeting, that the room layout is conducive to discussion, and that the equipment you plan to use is in working order. In the case of a virtual presentation, you won't be able to visually inspect all the meeting rooms, but do check the one that you'll be presenting from.
Considering unique factors
Because of the differences between virtual presentations and face-to-face presentations, you need to consider the following special factors:
Timing: Unlike an in-person presentation, a virtual presentation can span several time zones. You need to take this into consideration when scheduling the presentation. If possible, give the presentation during normal business hours for all audience members. Be aware of when audience members at various locations usually take breaks or eat meals. Try to plan a presentation time that is convenient for all of them.
If you have a regularly scheduled virtual meeting (weekly, monthly, and so on) that includes people from several time zones, rotate the starting time. That way, no one has to get up early or stay up late every time.
Technology: Make sure that all audience members have the equipment necessary to receive your presentation and that they know how to use it. Test the equipment beforehand. Then test it again. If the equipment doesn't work, your presentation doesn't work. Have a backup plan ready in case the equipment fails during your presentation. (Will you call everyone? E-mail everyone? Shout out the window?) If audience members are using a phone to connect with others, they need to make sure the line doesn't have the call-waiting feature or that call waiting is temporarily disengaged.
Appearance: If you appear on screen via a Web or videoconference, then you should consider how your appearance will affect your message. Here are a few ways to improve your electronic appearance:
• Wear a conservative outfit that doesn't draw attention away from your face.
• Wear pastel colors rather than bright colors, because pastels broadcast better.
• Avoid striped, checked, or patterned clothing.
• Make sure your clothes contrast with your background colors.
• Use a solid-color background.
Knowing which nonvirtual rules apply
Always remember that a virtual presentation is still a presentation. The following basic rules for making an effective presentation apply:
Identify the purpose for the presentation. Make sure you know why you're presenting. No one wants to hear a presentation, virtual or otherwise, that has no real purpose. Identifying the purpose of your presentation is critical for knowing how to construct it and deliver it.
Know your audience. Find out as much as possible about your audience. .
Organize your presentation. Choose a pattern that suits your topic (for instance problem and solution; past, present, and future; theory and practice; or whatever works). Make sure that your audience can easily follow your message. .
Write an introduction and conclusion. Just because a presentation is virtual doesn't mean it doesn't need an opening and a close. The introduction has to preview and lead into your talk. The conclusion has to wrap it up.
Provide materials in advance. This allows audience members to become familiar with the proceedings beforehand and get more out of them. You can easily distribute materials via e-mail. Consider giving out the following:
• Agenda: The audience wants to know what will happen and when.That's the purpose of an agenda. So provide one. An agenda makes it easier for audience members to keep track of the presentations.
• Support material: Providing support materials such as presentation notes and outlines in advance also helps attendees get more out of your presentation. These can be sent easily and cheaply through e-mail.
• PowerPoint slides: For presentations given on the Web, it may be smarter to distribute PowerPoint slides beforehand rather than using PowerPoint during your presentation. .
• Contact information: A list of all audience members' names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses should be distributed so that they can reach one another in the event of a technical problem.
Check the room(s). It's standard advice to check the room in advance of a presentation. You want to make sure that it meets your needs: Check to be sure that it has enough seats for the people participating in the meeting, that the room layout is conducive to discussion, and that the equipment you plan to use is in working order. In the case of a virtual presentation, you won't be able to visually inspect all the meeting rooms, but do check the one that you'll be presenting from.
Considering unique factors
Because of the differences between virtual presentations and face-to-face presentations, you need to consider the following special factors:
Timing: Unlike an in-person presentation, a virtual presentation can span several time zones. You need to take this into consideration when scheduling the presentation. If possible, give the presentation during normal business hours for all audience members. Be aware of when audience members at various locations usually take breaks or eat meals. Try to plan a presentation time that is convenient for all of them.
If you have a regularly scheduled virtual meeting (weekly, monthly, and so on) that includes people from several time zones, rotate the starting time. That way, no one has to get up early or stay up late every time.
Technology: Make sure that all audience members have the equipment necessary to receive your presentation and that they know how to use it. Test the equipment beforehand. Then test it again. If the equipment doesn't work, your presentation doesn't work. Have a backup plan ready in case the equipment fails during your presentation. (Will you call everyone? E-mail everyone? Shout out the window?) If audience members are using a phone to connect with others, they need to make sure the line doesn't have the call-waiting feature or that call waiting is temporarily disengaged.
Appearance: If you appear on screen via a Web or videoconference, then you should consider how your appearance will affect your message. Here are a few ways to improve your electronic appearance:
• Wear a conservative outfit that doesn't draw attention away from your face.
• Wear pastel colors rather than bright colors, because pastels broadcast better.
• Avoid striped, checked, or patterned clothing.
• Make sure your clothes contrast with your background colors.
• Use a solid-color background.
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