If your position requires you to make frequent presentations, there is no doubt that you need to know how to present persuasively. There is also no doubt that strong business presentation skills and strong career growth are directly proportional. Yet public speaking is consistently ranked as the number one fear that people harbor.
“According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Sound good? This means that for the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’d be better off in the casket than doing the eulogy. -Jerry Seinfield
From my experience of conducting a presentation skills training program for over 1,000 people, I have identified 5 tips that will help you turn your fear into positive energy:
1. Organize: A good presentation starts with raw data and well-researched information and is complemented by personal opinion and colorful language. In short, a successful presentation has a distinctive personality that is extremely well structured and timed.
two. Remember the Three C’s: When you are giving a presentation, you must remember to speak with confidence, clarity, and conviction. While the nervousness is justified, it’s worth remembering that as the presenter, you’re the one in control of the room, so everything you speak should exude confidence and conviction. If you don’t believe what you say, no one else will. And remember to enunciate!
3. Make it personal: If you’ve ever watched a TED talk, you’ve probably noticed that very few things work as well as a story. Oral traditions and narrative cultures continue to thrive to this day because, as human beings, we connect with each other through the stories we share. To keep things interesting and the audience engaged, back up your presentations with your own anecdotal evidence. Share the process, the results, and what you’ve learned from them, and as an added measure, use humor to drive home the point you’re trying to make.
Four. Check the details: Liberation is always in the details. If you’re using visual aids and slides, remember to keep things subtle. Choose a background color that isn’t too loud or too bright, and use simple sans-serif fonts. The idea is to make the audience focus on you and the information you are sharing, not distract them from what really matters. By the way, skip the bells and whistles too. While it’s tempting to add graphics and fades between slides, the hype exists.
5. Practical practical practical: And then come back and practice some more. Regardless of whether you’re an expert in your field or know all the statistics like the back of your hand, stage fright is a very real thing. The more you practice, the more familiarity you will develop with your content and the better you will be able to time it. This is the time to decide if you want to make room for questions or continue right to the end.
Of course, if you’re still stuck, signing up for soft skills training with a focus on corporate presentation skills training will help you tremendously in gaining the confidence you need. There are several organizations out there that offer these training courses, so don’t hesitate to ask for help at the right time.
