Basic principles
Content
01 Introduction
Task 1 /
Task 2
02 Preparing to give a presentation
Task 3
03 Overcoming nerves
- 01 Introduction
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For some people, giving presentations is an enjoyable experience. If you are the kind of person who relishes the prospect of performing in front of others and being the main focus of attention, then you're ideally suited to this medium of communication.
However, if you're the kind of person who dreads having to perform in front of an audience and feels sick with fear just thinking about having the spotlight on you, then having to give a presentation can be a really daunting prospect.
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[Back to top] - 02 Preparing to give a presentation
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Even if you are confident about public speaking, you are not likely to be awarded good grades for your presentations unless you have thoroughly prepared what you are going to say beforehand.
Effective preparation can also certainly help to overcome a lack of confidence and nerves. If you are satisfied that you know enough about your topic and that you have thoroughly rehearsed what you are going to say, then quite often the concentration required in terms of actually performing the task means that you are less likely to be conscious of the fact that you are 'on stage'. You're focusing more on just getting the task done. As with everything else, the more often you practise and the more often things go well, the more confidence you will take from the experience.
[Back to top] - 03 Overcoming nerves
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As mentioned above, effective preparation can play an important role in controlling anxiety about presentation giving. Positive feedback can also help you to feel better about your ability to perform well. Take the opportunity, then, to give some positive feedback to other colleagues. You are more likely to receive support from others if you give it yourself.
Try to calm yourself down by taking some deep breaths beforehand. It is also very helpful to deliberately pause at regular intervals during your presentation. By pausing between different sections you can think about your own breathing and try to regulate your speed more effectively. If you are able to stop for breath, you will undoubtedly feel in greater control of what you are doing and your audience will thank you for giving them time to absorb the information which is being imparted.
If appropriate (obviously this will depend on the nature of your presentation topic), try to smile at your audience. This will not only help you to feel better, but it will also make the audience feel a little more relaxed and will make it easier for them to relate to you.
Try not to compare yourself negatively with any of your colleagues. Some people are more readily suited to performing in front of others, this doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with you if you don't like it!
If you have been particularly impressed with a presentation or lecture given by a colleague or tutor, take the opportunity to think carefully about what made it good. Try to learn from the experience of watching other people give presentations and try to consciously incorporate into your own work anything that you've liked.
Even if you have had a bad experience of presentation giving, things can only get better! Try to approach the task of giving a presentation with a positive attitude. Focus on trying your best to communicate some information which you feel will be of benefit to others. If you believe that the information you are conveying is relevant and interesting, then the chances are that your audience will feel the same way.
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