The “Fear Factor” In Presentations The General Manager of a leading hotel once confided: “I’m o.k. with one-on-one conversations. It‘s when I have to address a whole group - that’s when the shivers start!”. Well, the GM is not alone - there are millions out there who fear public speaking more than they fear darkness, death, heights and the like. Why is this so? Why do people “freeze” or experience a whole swarm of “butterflies” in their stomachs? Fear, anxiety and nervousness in giving a speech or presentation is also magnified in the individual’s self-talk. e.g. “What if the audience notices my nervousness?” “What if I forget what I am supposed to say?” “What if I lose track of where I am in my notes?” “What if I suddenly panic and go …show more content…
This inability to believe in oneself, that one can do it with a positive mind-set, is what brings about this “freeze”, or “butterflies”, or the ‘what ifs”. So the nervousness shows in the body language (posture, quivering voice, lack of eye contact) and in the content of the material presented. May, a marketing executive, was a participant at a course conducted by ITD World on Speaking and Presenting Skills. She displayed much anxiety as she hurried through her presentation. Her non-verbal behaviour clearly showed how glad she was to get it over with and to return to the safety of her …show more content…
It may be hidden deep - you must give yourself permission to bring it out.” • Positive Thinking. Believe in yourself, the value of your message and how this is going to benefit the listener. This will help us speak with a strong conviction and persuade the listener that it will contribute to his/her personal growth and success. Let that be our focus. • Learn To Relax. The mind needs to be free of worries, and anxieties. Accept the fact that nervousness is good for you! There is no room for the “what ifs”, we should focus on the task at hand and the value of the message we seek to impart. Exercise helps us unwind and rid us of stress. Before speaking, take a few deep breaths, look out for a friendly face, make eye contact and smile. • Know The Subject thoroughly since the more familiar we are with the topic, the more confident we will be in its delivery. Remember that fumbling with words is a clear signal to the audience of unpreparedness and a lack of familiarity with the subject matter. The amount of