How do you get over fear of delivering presentations?

Question

I always get really nervous before and during presentations and big meetings, any tips would be welcome?

Answer 1

Neres are good.... it means you care. What you need to think about is how you can deliver the presentation without the nerves showing, therefore some classic signs of nervousness are:

Swaying - movement is good but not swaying from side to side, you will make your audience seasick

Fidgeting - if you have notes try to have a lectern and not have the notes in your hand to play with, also try not to have a flipchart marker in y our hand as you will be tempted to click the lid.

Looking at the floor - looking down will constrict your windpipe and affect the projection of your voice. Try to make eye contact with your audience but if this is not possible look just over their heads.

Practise, Practise, Practise - remember the 7 Ps - Prior Preparation Prevents Pretty Poor Performance (I cleaned it up!!!)

An lastly remember to breath, nerves can often speed up the rate at which we speak making us forget to breath. Pause, Breath and carry on. Any pauses will seem longer to you than they do to your audience.

Good Luck

Answer 2

God I hate presentations!
I always found myself getting nervous for presentations at uni.
The first few I did had me shaking with nerves.
There really is no way of getting around the feeling. You just have to learn the material and act confident even if you don't feel it. Try to concentrate on speaking clearly and slowly (nerves make you talk faster and mumble), take deep breaths in between paragraphs and smile it will make you feel better.
Make sure to take note cards in case you forget what your saying!
Visual aids help alot because then everyone's attention is not on you.
The thing I always found strange was when you tell people you were nervous they always sounded surprised!
Good Luck!

Answer 3

Practice at home so often that you almost know it by heart. Print out your notes in big letters so you can quickly glance down and find your place, if necessary. Remember that there is no reason why they should want you to fail. And without losing eye contact with the whole group, keep referring back to any friendly faces in the audience.

Answer 4

i was once told the reason we get nervous before a presentation is because we are not prepared which I think is true. just make sure that you know what you're talking about and you'll always be fine.

Answer 5

Make a fool of yaself! Make it funny, even the most tedious or serious presentations can have a little humour added & when you see people laugh at the 1joke you may have, it makes you feel better & more relaxed (me, I dance around & everything!)

Answer 6

i big shot of archers worked for my uni interview! if you notice a good pub on your journey down use that as a reward for doing well! hope it helps

Answer 7

i dont think you ever get over the adrenaline rush you just got to suck it up and you still feel the same everysingle time lol

Answer 8

everyone does. You just have to step up and do it. Eventually it will get easier

Answer 9

my dad told me once to imagine they all had chickens heads, it really works!