If you've never had any fear or anxiety about public speaking, go ahead and skip to the next section. If the mere thought of this presentation has you gnawing at your fingernails or losing sleep, then this section is for you.
Don't let nerves or anxiety keep you from preparing and delivering a fantastic presentation! Go ahead and talk about them. What are you afraid of? What is waking you up in the middle of the night? What is creating knots in the pit of your stomach?
Vague worries are far more powerful than specific, named concerns. Using this chart and the following steps, we'll send those fears packing:
Name your concerns; write down everything that is stressing you out!
Define whether each fear is rational or irrational.
Recognize the irrational fears and release them. Don't waste time and energy on something that won't happen.
Note
Make a Note
A rational fear is something that is likely to occur. It's rational to be worried about losing your footing and falling while speaking; it happens all the time. An irrational fear is something that's unlikely to occur. It's irrational to fear that your boss will fire you for performing poorly on one presentation.
Prioritize the rational fears.
For each rational fear, ask yourself, "So what? So what if I fall? So, what if I forget everything I was going to say?"
The answers to these questions will help you decide where to focus your energy. If you fall, a quick acknowledgment or a funny comment will get your presentation back on track. But, if you forget everything you were planning to say, your supervisor could be mightily displeased. Prioritization makes it clear that you should spend more time working on what you're going to say than worrying about falling on your face.
Develop a plan for attacking the rational fears.
Some fears are easy to address with simple problem-solving. If you're afraid of falling, wear shoes and clothes that allow you to move freely and maintain your balance. If you're afraid of having toilet paper stuck to your shoe, plan to do a quick wardrobe check before showtime. Releasing fears related to crafting and delivering an effective presentation will require more planning. That's exactly what this book is here to help you do, so keep reading!
By naming your fears, analyzing them, and developing a plan for handling them, your presentation will demonstrate the confidence and problem-solving skills that are key to successful management.