All the preparation for a presentation has to be done beyond the classroom. You might be too anxious to speak up in front of a live audience, resulting in a shaky voice or making you forget your lines. Here are 5 awesome tips to reduce anxiety during your presentation.
1. Know your material
Learn your presentation material inside and out. Spend quality time researching and understanding the topic you are presenting. This will build your confidence and give you more control over the situation.
If you forget a line, you won’t have to sweat. Instead, you can improvise easily since you already understand what you have to say. Plus, you won’t be anxious about any questions thrown at you as you haven’t just memorised the lines but know the topic like the back of your hand.
2. Practice
Practice! In the classroom and beyond the classroom whenever you have time. Practice makes one perfect, and there’s this saying for a reason. When you practice enough, the materials get imprinted in your subconscious. Even if you get distracted or nervous, the lines come to you naturally.
Make sure to rehearse your material in front of a mirror or with a friend. This will help you identify potential mistakes and make you more comfortable with the material. You can also use a timer to ensure that you can deliver your presentation within the allotted time.
3. Visualise success
Visualising success is a great way to reduce anxiety before a presentation. For example, when you are at home resting after class, take some time to close your eyes and imagine yourself delivering a fantastic presentation.
Picture the audience’s reaction and the feeling of accomplishment you will have afterwards. This can help to calm your nerves and give you the confidence you need to deliver your presentation. It might also be a nice way to unwind and get a good sleep before the big day.
4. Take deep breaths
If you are standing in front of an audience and you start feeling anxious, don’t panic. Instead, smile, tell yourself everything will be okay and take some deep breaths. This will help to relax your body and calm your mind.
Taking slow, deep breaths can also help to reduce your heart rate and give you a sense of control over the situation. Make sure to practice this beyond the classroom so that if it happens during the presentation, you will know exactly what to do.
5. Speak slowly
When you are anxious, it is easy to rush through your presentation in an effort to get it over with. However, this can make it challenging to convey your message effectively. Plus, the rambling will alert the audience that you are nervous.
So, take your time and speak slowly and calmly. This will help you stay in control while allowing you to deliver your material clearly and concisely. Emphasise certain words slowly with a confident tone to mask your nervousness.
Discussion about this post