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Have you considered joining Toastmasters? Not sure how they are doing it during C19 but perhaps they do have virtual meets.
Please join toastmasters. Amazing organization and they work with you 500% of the way to get better and better at public speaking. Warm welcoming judgement free environment
Since we’re all on zoom meetings anyway, it’s ok to prepare a script ahead of time and read as much as you’re comfortable with. :)
Yes. In same boat as you. Toastmasters helps a lot. Go over the entire presentation without interruption as if you're doing it live about 3 or 4 times has done wonders for me
Take a deep breath and slow down when you speak. This way you can draw listeners in easier.
Drinking water, coffee, or tea also helps
Lol are you serious D1? I’ll clarify - while you’re presenting, it helps (works for me) to sip on water, coffee, or tea when you feel like your throat is starting to tighten up from nerves. It also gives you a chance to pause and take a breath too.
Clench your fist. If you’re on zoom you’re good, if not hide it behind your back (you don’t want anyone to see this). When you are stressed and nervous it makes your neck muscles tense. This makes breathing difficult, makes your voice higher and the pattern out of step. It’s impossible to tense your neck muscles much when your fist is clenched - it’s a biological quirk (I believe) to stop you wrenching your muscles if you’re about to throw a punch. And, there is no shame in practicing. I generally present well but when I have a big presentation this is because I write a script for everything and memorise it by writing it out. I assume 120 words per minute of normal speech and use that to ensure I’m to time and practice the heck out of it. After a few rounds of this it gets easier and you also have this tool whenever there is a presentation you want to ace. Good luck!!!
It’s all okay OP. I used to be in the same boat as you ; sometimes still am. But you get over it through practice. So keep at it and you will get better.
A few things that helped me along the way
1) needed to know what to do with my hands ; someone advised lock them in front of your waist or put one over the other so your attention doesn’t go to your hands and you don’t feel awkward
2) take breaks and pauses.. make your presentation into bullet points which you can tell stories around. So that a keyword in the bullet makes you go into the train of thought. Use water or coffee to serve as a natural break. Or say you are taking a note (for interactive presentations)
3) make the content yourself or make sure you do dry runs with your team. That helps get the storyline straight and your talking points and people’s reaction ready
4) write down what you will speak ; it’s no shame having to refer back to something written. People always say - if you want to say something put it on the slide so you don’t forget.
5) identify an anchor. We usually identify one or two people whom we can look in the eye (preferably people who nod and confirm receipt of your message) when presenting in person which helps to feel you are communicating. With zoom/virtual it’s different so use the screen as your buddy.
6) for awkward pauses or silences during the presentation - make references to items you used before or items that are coming to help build the transition
7) practice. Practice. PRACTICE.
To date I get nervous the night before presenting, start feeling sweat the hour before presenting but when I have put in the hard work to prepare the content and prepare my thoughts; it all goes well :)
Propranolol.
When I had to present for my partner panel, I got some great advice… Practice what you’re going to say while looking at yourself in the mirror. It sounds weird, but it really provides a similar feeling to presenting in front of a group. Keep practicing until it doesn’t phase you
Force yourself to breathe through your nose. Proven to be the best way to calm the sympathetic nervous system and reduce your fight or flight response
In addition to all the other good advice, I got more comfortable at it by working my way up from smaller groups - speaking in front of a whiteboard to 5 people lots of times made it easier to present to 10 people, etc.