One of the biggest fears people face when giving a speech is stage fright. Some call this feeling stress, tension, or fear.
Either way, it's a horrible feeling, and you may feel even more nervous when giving a career presentation in front of your boss and colleagues.
How to manage stress and anxiety when giving a presentation
The first point to remember is that stress is a good thing. Without feeling stressed, we would not draw any energy. Without this energy, we wouldn't be able to get the audience's attention to listen to us.
Don't try to get rid of this feeling of stress, it is impossible, but use this feeling to your advantage.
Transfer this energy in your body and tell yourself that this feeling is normal and that your heart is racing because you have something important to say.
Try to be alone for a few minutes before your presentation. Find a secluded area where you can be alone, stretch your body, and train your vocal cords. Prepare your gadget, in this case your body. Relax, prepare yourself and get ready to start.
Before taking the stage or entering the room, repeat the first sentence in your mind.
This will ensure that you have not forgotten anything. After saying the first sentence out loud, you will be able to continue with your speech.
Another common symptom of stress that can affect speech is dry mouth.
Remember to stay hydrated and drink water before you start. If possible, keep a flask or glass of water by your side in case you need a drink during your presentation.
Benefits of practicing public speaking and recitation exercises
1. Tongue control when speaking
Tension also affects the ability to pronounce letters clearly. To remedy that, do these simple exercises:
- Place your tongue between your upper and lower row of teeth.
- Close your teeth tightly to your tongue without hurting yourself.
- Say the first sentence out loud, keeping your tongue between your teeth.
- Free your tongue and speak normally.
Your speech will be clearer. This exercise helps you to speak clearly and intelligibly. When you do this before your presentation, you'll be able to speak smoothly without stuttering.
2. Body language control
- The idea of navigating the place.
- Remember to put your hands in the right place and try to walk as you move from one idea to another in your speech.
- Move with a goal to highlight the transition to a new idea in your talk.
- And don't forget to move your gaze from one side to the other on a wavy line.
Try to get everyone involved and not just focus on your boss or the people who are important to you.
3. Look then speak then look and speak
Don't hold your gaze for too long or for so long that the listener does not feel uncomfortable.
Make sure your voice is heard and understood. Sometimes, you won't have a microphone or a microphone isn't necessary due to the size of the room in which you're presenting.
You should speak loudly and understandably and pronounce the letters as clearly as possible. Make sure you maintain a steady pace and don't speak too fast, and make sure you stress some of the words.
Silence may also be a good strategy. Pause between sentences and keep your audience's attention for longer.
How to stay calm when making a mistake during a presentation
However, despite all kinds of preparations, sometimes unexpected problems may arise. Memory lapses are most common during professional presentations.
These lapses are not serious problems and may go unnoticed. The audience may not notice a three-second pause caused by a lapse in memory. If you are in such a situation, pause for a few seconds and take a breath to get back on track.
And even if this lapse in memory lasts longer, the audience will not turn against you. They are not waiting for a mistake from you. They are human beings just like you.
The top tip to take away from this section is the reason you're here, and that is because you have something important to say. Keep your speech short and speak loud and clear.
Say the words clearly, look at your audience, and respect your deadline.
Most importantly, keep in mind that no one wants or expects you to fail. Have confidence and make sure you are the right person for the job.