There is no debating the fact that standing before a room full of people creates pressure. The studies continue to point out that fear of heights, snakes, drowning, and needles still round out the top five biggest fears.[1] Still, those fears do not compare to the fear of public speaking. We all deal with the pressure of public speaking. Some people excel under pressure, and others tend to wither and weaken under the weight of it. We often read about tips and ideas that help to battle this difficult nemesis during a presentation, but personally, I believe the battle is won before the presentation is ever delivered.
Clearly, repetition is the greatest friend of anyone who performs in front of others. The more we perform, the easier it becomes. But even repetition can create problems for performers because we are often lured into complacency. Do you really want to avoid any anxiety before an important meeting or presentation? I happen to look forward to that slight, uneasy feeling before a presentation. As a matter of fact, the only time I do feel any sense of real nervousness is when I feel nothing before a presentation. There’s an ominous feeling in the air that this might be the day I perform flatly.
The fact is this: We want that pressure; we need that pressure, and it’s that pressure that makes us unforgettable. We know that this pressure will abate once we get a few minutes into our presentation, so it’s those first few minutes that are the roughest. Unfortunately, that’s when the audience is judging us the hardest. When I train speakers, I work hard on working out those first few minutes of delivery, but if pressure gets in the way, the powerful opening is lost. That’s why I focus so hard on what happens before a presentation is delivered. Consider these four simple thoughts to help you manage this, or for that matter, any pressure situation.
- Show up early… I mean, early! It never ceases to amaze me when I see someone show up thirty minutes before a presentation and then he or she begins to set up. The pros will show up an hour before a presentation. I show up significantly earlier for a host of reasons: I might have a microphone to work with, or I might be filmed, or I’ll need to coordinate audio visuals, or I’ll need to test audio levels off my laptop, or I’ll be looking to see if there are any audio hotspots that could create feedback, or I’ll need to make sure handouts are ready for distribution or, well, you can see that an hour is not early enough. Even if you can work out all of the logistical issues in an hour, it’s not early enough for the mental preparation for the presentation.
- Prepare the mind. It’s not uncommon for there to be a lot going on before a presentation. The client often has questions, audience members often wander up with questions, and there are support people who often want to chat. Before you know it, your name is called, and your presentation begins. Is that really the way you want to start your “race?” You show up hours early so, at least 15 minutes before a presentation begins, you don’t have to worry about answering any more questions. Find a quiet area where there’s a comfortable chair or take a nice, easy walk so you can clear your mind of all distractions.
- Visualize. It’s difficult for me to tell you exactly what to visualize because it really depends on you. Many will visualize those first steps in front of the room, and or seeing themselves successfully accomplishing the task at hand. As for me, I have a mental image of that of a racehorse getting ready to run a race. In my mind, I am walking myself slowly around a mental paddock; quiet, and at peace, relishing the thought of the race that’s soon to follow.
- Be grateful. Five minutes or so before a presentation, wander back into the room, and make sure that those who are running the meeting see you there. If you can, take a position behind the audience. One of the last thoughts I’d suggest you place in your mind is a simple one. Look at the back of those heads and remind yourself to be grateful. Sometimes there will be 20 heads, sometimes 200 heads, and sometimes 2,000 heads. The number is irrelevant. Be grateful that you have a rare, and precious opportunity to be heard. At this moment in time, that audience is there to listen to you. The audience is not your opponent, but rather a gift.
When placed under pressure, we get caught up in so many unnecessary worries that are usually not under our control. Why create even more stress by taking your mind to a negative place? Preparation is the secret weapon and not just preparation for the presentation, but also preparation for that time before the presentation. Properly prepared, doesn’t it make sense to take it to a positive place? Just remind yourself that these are the moments in life that make us feel alive. That’s something you can control! Enjoy your race.
[1] Chapman University Survey on American Fears
Rob,
Another great post. This highlighted many of the same things I went through when performing for Theatre and other public speaking engagements in high school and college. Though I enjoyed my time in the spotlight and having the priceless privilege to inspire and entertain an audience of any size, it’s nice to know I wasn’t the only one who felt that pressure regardless of how many times I rehearsed or performed.
Have an awesome weekend!
Sincerely,
Manu
Agreed. Pressure is a good thing. It keeps us sharp. We just don’t need the pressure of being perfect. That kind of pressure doesn’t help at all. Thanks for posting Manu, and have a great weekend as well.
Rob,
“Practice makes perfect” “The early bird catches the worm” “Be prepared”
If you do your homework , Running Your Race will eventually be second nature.
Rob thanks for addressing this topic . This is a good read for me as a reminder , to always stay prepared.
Regards,
Buddy
You bet. I can’t think of a time in my life where my preparation detracted from my overall performance. It can only help us. Just remember some of that preparation is time alone. Great hearing from you Buddy!
Rob,
Great observations on presentation. As another who has presented before hundreds of groups, the only thing I could add in the “being prepared” arena is, prepare for the unexpected. The projector bulb that blows halfway into the presentation, tech difficulties out of your control, the speaker who unprofessionally runs long into your allotted time… etc, etc. I’ve seen presenters, whose station in life, one would think, would give them great bearing on stage, lose the audience’s attention and respect by haranguing the tech people when the video didn’t play correctly or at all. Some who fall apart if the PowerPoint or other media they use is unavailable. Preparation encompasses the total knowledge of your message and it’s delivery.
You should be able to present a message ‘naked’ with no supporting tech or media. Practice to ensure your delivery is compelling and understandable without charts, graphs, video or media of any kind. Voice projection and inflection, body presence and true mastery of the messaging and story you are relaying to the audience should be the number one skill you possess. No matter what, Content is King and your delivery is what makes the difference. If you are relying on technology to carry your message, you have your priorities backward.
People are there to hear you, and the message you are delivering. You should be prepared to go it alone, you with your audience. Many times I’ve had to forego any assistance by way of technology, and total preparation for all contingencies made the difference in success, You should prepare your delivery to be just you, and your audience. The supporting tech is just that, support. Don’t use it as a crutch as so many do, I can read your PowerPoint just as well as you can. look at it as icing to the cake you are feeding your audience. Give me an impelling reason to listen to your message. It’s you who has the task to draw me into your message. If you can master the naked delivery with confidence, then you can conquer anything.
Thanks for your continued insights… have a blessed holiday season and a prosperous and memory filled New Year.
Now that’s a post! Technology is a blessing and a curse. To this day, regardless of the size of the audience, I always request two flip charts to be placed on stage with me. I’ve never had a flip chart blow a bulb, lose power, or have a technical glitch. Pitch, pace, energy, enthusiasm, and so much more carry the day. Audiences don’t bond with technology; they bond with a human being who can communicate and connect with their world. Thanks for the reminder Gerry, and thank so much for posting.
Hi Rob, Thanks for another great post. Appreciated Gerry’s word to the wise on tech too. Last week, I arrived 40 mins early to an interview because I’d decided to go for broke and project the presentation I’d prepared instead of using the 4 colored printed copies. The office IT person hooked up everything and couldn’t have been nicer. I had time to visit the restroom and collect my thoughts. I was a bit nervous but used that as an energy boost. When the team came in, I was ready and did well. If there’d been an issue I had the backup ready. So, I took a risk to present on screen and hopefully the reward is about to hatch. They’re checking references!
Fingers crossed that the reward will hatch, but regardless, you won’t be kicking yourself because of something YOU did wrong. We control what we can control, and preparation is almost always 100% under our control. Walk tall Najwa no matter what the outcome. Thanks for posting!
Rob,
The focus – and joy you bring to a room is amazing to watch, and every time I get to see you in action, you raise the bar by which I measure my own performance. This BLArticle was powerful in that it gave me insights on just how you go about your end-game preparations — insights that will help me bring a little more focus and joy to the next room I plug into. Thanks for another leg-up my friend!
JV
JV and I frequently present together. Now he knows where I walk off to before it’s my turn to take the microphone. What JV doesn’t tell you is that working with him makes me raise the bar to keep up with him! Thanks for the kind words JV, and the post.
“These are the moments in life that make us feel alive”
Wow Rob!!
The energy behind this blarticle is amazing! Thank you for this. I like how you share an example of your visualizations when you’re preparing. I agree that it’s important to step into the mind frame you want to be in, maybe even take a short walk to settle into it. All in all, that small window of time is a world in and of itself, most importantly one which you create.
I’m going to visualize something today before work, maybe I’ll use your visualization this time.
Sincerely,
Taura
I’m happy to lend out my visualization! A nice, easy, slow walk around the paddock… or place near your work. Deep breaths. Positive thoughts. Be grateful. Enjoy YOUR race Taura. Always happy to see a post from you.
Thanks, Rob, for sharing your great secret — preparation, both mentally and technically! I believe that preparation certainly contributed to your energy and greatness on stage. I’ll implement more PREPARATION in various areas.
Fantastic. I think it’s all about creating an intelligent ritual that works for you. That quiet walk and finding peace really works for me. The key is not to be too low or too high. Taking the stress of worry away by being early and rehearsed allows you to get to a true level of calmness. When the mind is calm under pressure good results are sure to follow. Thanks for posting Hui!
Excellent!
I appreciate the flat footed candor and the gut-reality of this one. It hit the primal chord in my life melody. Thanks so much, Rob. Just the other day I presented my first professional seminar–part of day #1 of the Canfield Success Principles workshop as a Toastmasters advanced speaker project. I only covered 30 minutes, but boy! did I ever stress out over those 30 minutes! And do you know what? NONE of the stuff I worried would happen ever happened. I did not faint from fatigue. I did not forget stuff. The audience was not bored to death (one member said, “don’t worry! I’ll let you know if it gets boring–I’ll start snoring”! I love this club member. Wit like a scalpel.)
I got some of the best feedback ever–the kind that will push a speaker toward the next level. Wish you were there. If I was victorious, part of that victory is yours. Thank you so much for the words about preparation. Priceless! I now feel ready to tackle the keynote speech, the one that will contain my core message.
Thirty minutes is longer than most can imagine so I can understand why you were anxious about this presentation. What’s more, although Toastmasters is a warm and inviting environment the reality is that’s a much harder audience than most audiences you will be speaking in front of. To begin with, the rest of the audiences don’t count your “umm’s!” I’m sure you did just great. I wish I had been there. Go get that keynote and just remember, when it comes to the delivery, make sure you have some time to be alone and clear your mind before the presentation is delivered. Thanks so much for sharing your story and posting Edia.
Obviously, this post struck a chord! Improvisation is a key–because: stuff will happen. The slide deck goes rogue! The stage is not even there (happened to me)…. and on and on.But the audience KNOWS of you are there for them and NOT to do a show. Thanks, Rob
Spoken by a pro, and absolutely right. The audience knows when things don’t go quite as planned and appreciate watching a pro play the hand they have been given. When we don’t make a big deal of it, neither will they. I always appreciate hearing from you Eileen because it’s great hearing another professional speaker’s point of view. Thanks for posting!
Rob:
Back on April 1, 2011 you blogged about how The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is… The Fear of Change.
The Chapman survey result mentioned in your first sentence (about public speaking still being the number one fear) was from their 2014 survey. Their second 2015 survey had a blog post titled America’s Top Fears 2015 that instead ranked the fear of public speaking at #26 out of 89 fears.
Back in 2012 I blogged about how Either way you look at it, public speaking really is not our greatest fear.
That’s just a myth, and it is busted.
Okay Richard, although you are referring to a 2011 statistic that was accurate in a 2011 Blarticle®, you make a good point. In 2015 public speaking seems to have finally slipped in the polls as our biggest fear. Depending on the survey you seek out, you’l find it has slipped as far as 26th in the survey you quoted or as far as 2nd in a survey I found. Suffice to say it’s still a huge stumbling block for so many people. Working in the trenches and actively teaching and coaching individuals who struggle with this fear I’d say slipping to #2 isn’t exactly busting a myth, but thank goodness it appears to be slipping! Thanks for posting Richard and keeping me up to date!