A&S Alexander & Seiler

Q: How do I get rid of being so nervous in front of a group?

A: Not surprising that speaking in front of a group is the number one fear so you are not alone. I have found that people are nervous for all the wrong reasons: forgetting what to say, they'll see me knees trembling, my heart races and I think I am going to die, what if I pass out.the list goes on.

The good news is that there are no known reports that presenting causes death. A little levity about a serious concern. Every time you are in front of a group you do take a risk, that is why some of your listeners are glad it's you and not them up there!

First let me say that some nervousness is good and healthy. Appropriate nervousness keeps you on your toes and helps you perform better. As an experienced speaker I still have some degree of nervousness and I hope I never lose it. It tells me I take nothing for granted in order to deliver what my audience deserves. I enjoy working with nervous clients because that tells me they have energy. Believe me it's a lot harder to light a fire under somebody to be excited about their presentation.

Second, anyone can learn to channel nervous energy (negative) into positive energy. I am reminded of the joke: How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice! Practice does not make perfect.don't even go there.but it will give you a sense of comfort. Here's what you do.

If you have a camcorder, use it to tape yourself. If you don't have one, borrow one. Taping yourself in the privacy of your own home and reviewing yourself in action is a lesson in self-discovery. Instinctively, the majority of us know what to do to make our presentation more interesting and they key is our body language. When you review your tape, turn off the sound and ask yourself if the person you see on the screen is an interesting person that keeps your attention. Remember that 90% of our communication is non-verbal. So what does that have to do with nervousness? Please read on.

This is the key to channeling your negative nervous energy into positive energy. Think of how you communicate about a passionate subject.you move.you move your hands, arms, you lean forward, take a step forward, backwards.you use gestures and you're animated. That is what I want you to do when you practice your presentation and push those movements to the limit. (I have yet to see any one overdo it in front of an audience.) Once you practice your normal gestures, you'll start feeling your nervousness ease and your confidence grow. Now these need to be normal gestures, don't put them in artificially because you become robotic. You'll know they are your own gestures by the fact that you start the gesture before you speak your thought or information.

Now practice, practice, practice and have some fun with this. Each time you will find yourself more at ease. To keep the momentum going, I always take a couple of slow deep breaths using my diaphragm just before I "go on." I also visualize that I will deliver a great presentation. I tip I pick up from Olympic athletes who visualize their winning performance.

And finally, volunteer to speak in front of groups such as at your church, clubs, your children's school, etc. With these guidelines and a variety of experience, you'll have those butterflies flying in formation, your formation. Good luck!

If you will like to discuss this further, please email me: contact@denyseseiler.com

prev | FAQ

phone: (616) 204-8305    email: contact@denyseseiler.com