Watching great presenters, as suggested in our presentation tips, you will see that they all have one thing in common, confidence. It is this trait, confidence, that is the key to giving an excellent presentation. You may be saying, “but I’ve never presented,” or “I don’t like to present.” The thought of presenting makes me anxious. I am sure you are asking, “if I don’t have confidence, how do I get it?”
The first thing you should do is prepare for your presentation. The article describes the necessary steps to ensure you are as ready as possible. The last preparation step is practice, practice, practice. There are four aspects to practicing that ultimately give you the confidence you need to stand and deliver your presentation as best you can and why practicing your presentation will build your confidence.
Saying the words out loud – by saying the words out loud, you are preparing your mind to know what to speak at the various points of your presentation. By practicing saying the words out loud, you can minimize any hesitation in delivering your message. Minimize any fumbling of the words
Watch yourself say the words – by watching yourself say the words, you can see how you deliver the message. Seeing yourself say the words is a powerful way to build confidence. How does the message sound? Does it have the desired intent? How do you look when you deliver it? Are you doing anything that may distract from the desired purpose of the message? For example, touching your face too much or making a distracting face?
Receive feedback from mentors – send your recorded practice session to some people that you know and trust. Ask them for constructive feedback that includes them stating what you did well and what you could do to improve.
Repeat – After receiving feedback from mentors, incorporate their feedback into your presentation, and record yourself practicing it again.
If you go through the process above, you will have trained your mind to know what to say and when to say it during your presentation. Know that this does not mean you will not get “butterflies.” Over 95% of people have anxious feelings leading up to and during the start of their presentation. It is healthy, we are all human. If you have prepared and practiced as described above, the anxiety you feel at the start of your presentation will last no longer than 5 minutes, and you will “hit your groove.” Your preparation and practice will shine in your performance.
Whether you realize it or not, people do want to hear what you have to say. If the audience is not distracted by you being unprepared, they will enjoy your presentation. You are an expert on your topic.
In summary, to ensure that you build your confidence when presenting the key is practicing. People used to say get in front of a mirror and watch yourself practice. Now with Erticulate, you can record yourself and watch as many times as you want. To help you be better, Erticulate optimizes the process of practicing, receiving feedback, and giving feedback.
