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How to manage nervousness when speaking in public
I have taught Presentation Skills for more than ten years now. Every program and every person — when asked what they want to do? The answer is to be less nervous when presenting in front of an audience.
But here’s the thing. You cannot eliminate nervousness. In fact, being nervous is an essential ingredient in making your presentation better.
This is because when you are nervous
- You have a source of energy
- You care about the outcome of your presentation
- You can improve your delivery
If you are nervous about delivering a talk — you will take time to think about:
- your audience
- the objective of your presentation
- practise your delivery
When you use the techniques listed below — you can make your presentation better.
How you can manage you nervousness
Fake it till you make it
If you want to feel less nervous, you need to stand confidently and smile. Get eye contact with your audience. Smile at individuals — you will most likely get smiles back. These kinds of interactions help you to feel more confident about your talk.
