Tips for handling nerves in presentations
I recently came across some tips for handling nerves, they might be useful next time you umpire…
Recognise It
Stage fright is a highly personal experience, yet is extremely common. It is your body's natural response to an unusual, perhaps fearful, experience. Most good presenters suffer some nerves. In a frightening situation, chemi¬cals flood the system, triggering sweaty palms, dry mouth, rapid heart beat, shaky limbs and other reactions. These 'symptoms' are a result of performance energy flowing through your body.
Reframe It
Fright symptoms also occur when you are excited. Telling yourself you are nervous merely re-enforces fear. Remind yourself you are excited - that's why you're short of breath and your knees have gone wobbly! Many of the same fright symptoms happen when we are attracted to someone and feel turned on. Maybe you're not nervous - just sexy! Reframing the experience - seeing it differently - helps reduce fright symptoms.
Think About It
If you're someone who suffers badly from stage fright you may become nervous just thinking about your presentation. This could tempt you to shut it from your mind and therefore under-rehearse. Persuade yourself, perhaps with some specific rewards, to face the situation and devote serious thinking time to it. If you go through the eye of the storm ahead of the presentation itself, you will feel much more prepared.
Prepare It
The more prepared you are, the less room there is for fear. So rehearse, rehearse and rehearse. Do anything to keep rehearsing and making the presentation become second nature.
Imagine It
Just as you can imagine a disaster, so you can also create positive mental pictures. For a week before the big event and before going to sleep, imagine yourself performing brilliantly. Literally 'see' yourself doing it well. Picture yourself as a star performer. Given that your mind will be creating anticipatory images anyway, you might as well make them positive ones, rather than nightmares.
Limber Up
Before a presentation you need to channel the energy that is rushing through your body. A vigorous shake-out, followed by some relaxed, steady breathing will help. Before taking centre stage be sure to actually use your voice so it too has a chance to warm up.
Stop!
Before launching into your presentation - stop. We call this the Presenter's Highway Code: STOP, BREATHE, LOOK and LISTEN. It slows you down, steadies your breathing, which will in turn steady your voice.
Focus
Get the attention off yourself and on to your audience. Focus on them, rather than listening to your own internal 'critic'. Really look at them, start noticing details. Realise they are human just like you.
