Presentation skills

 "All of these emotions are important. Sometimes you've just got to go with it" (Joy - Inside Out, 2015).

Most of us – and yes, your course coordinators also - will experience some stress, anxiety or nervousness when we are required to speak in public. This is normal! With preparation and practice, you can manage and even overcome your worries to succeed at presentations. 

Worrying about public speaking is normal. Learning more about why we worry is important, so we have a better understanding of ourselves and can put strategies in place to reduce the impacts of stress caused by public speaking. Understand the science of stage fright and how to overcome it through this (4:07 min) video.

Key highlights

• Learn how stress impacts public speaking.
• Identify how you respond to stress to manage it better before and during presentations.
• Gain tips to intervene early and manage the stress of public speaking.

In the science of stage fright and how to overcome it, the narrator talks about the fight or flight response. You may have also heard of the freeze and fawn responses which are also a stress response to a perceived threat, such as an oral presentation. We all respond to a perceived threat differently depending on the context. 

We all react differently to stress. Keep reading to learn tips about how to avoid activating your stress response.  

Reminder:

• Presenting is everywhere, and that's okay!
• Regardless of our work environment, we will likely need to speak in front of people we know and those we do not – this could be a medical handover, facilitating a family group, advocating/presenting for your client in court or another professional space. By learning how to manage the symptoms you identified above, you can make presenting a skill that helps you and others around you!

For those of us afraid of public speaking, the bad news is that the best way to overcome your fear is through repeated practice. Fortunately, there are several ways to practice that you can use to build your confidence without an audience. 

• Visualise presenting

If you’re not at the stage of speaking out loud, you can try imagining delivering a part of your presentation. Try to imagine the environment that you will be speaking in, the audience and you being confident and calm. You can practise this visualisation anywhere.

• Talk to your plants, the wall or your pet 

If you’re not feeling up for a human audience, consider practising in front of something or someone that will have no idea what you are saying.  

• Practice in front of a mirror or record yourself 

Practice delivering your presentation (or part of it) in front of a mirror or record a video of yourself. This allows you to refine your posture, hand movements, and overall body language. Aim to be expressive in a way that feels natural to you and enhances your message. 

• Start with small public speaking tasks 

Author Susan Cain, once paralysed by a fear of public speaking, overcame it by joining a class where her first challenge was simple: stand up, say her name, and sit down—victory! You can do the same. Gather a small group of supportive peers and practice standing up and saying your name or answering simple questions. For an extra confidence boost, try practising in the actual space where you'll be speaking. 

• Join Toastmasters. No, it's not a bread-cooking competition.

Joining a group like Toastmasters can also be beneficial. They provide a supportive environment to practice public speaking and receive constructive feedback. Locate a Toastmasters club near you.

1. Know your topic: the better you understand your material, the more confident you'll feel. This also helps you recover quickly if you lose your place. 
2. Get organised: plan your presentation thoroughly, including any props or visual aids. Use your props or visual aids as tools to take a deep breath, such as when changing the slide or passing out your props. Being organised and using the tools you prepared can reduce your anxiety.
3. Practice: rehearse your presentation multiple times. Practice in front of friends or family and ask for feedback. You can also practice in front of your mirror or record yourself and provide yourself with feedback – do not be too hard on yourself!  
4. Visualise success: Imagine your presentation going well. Positive visualisation can help reduce anxiety. You can also find motivating or inspiring quotes that you can use as a screen saver on your phone, tape to your wall or download the “I am – daily affirmations” app as prompts to remind yourself you are worthy of success. 
5. Deep breathing: take slow, deep breaths before and during your presentation to reduce the impacts of stress. Explore the physiological signs and how you can reduce your stress through a quick and simple breathing method.
6. Boost your confidence pre-presentation: Listen to an inspirational podcast, music or YouTube video to increase your confidence and challenge unhelpful self-talk.
7. Focus on your material: concentrate on delivering your content rather than worrying about the audience's reaction. Going first is a great way to help you focus on your material because you have not heard anyone else material yet.
8. Accept silence: if you lose your place, take a moment to breathe, take a sip of your water and collect your thoughts. A brief pause is usually not as noticeable as you might think.
9. Recognise your success: after your presentation, acknowledge your effort and successes – you completed the presentation - no matter how small.