Confident Presenting – 7 Tips to Raise Your Confidence When You’re Speaking in Public

One of the Most Elusive Keys to  Confident Presenting is Managing Yourself and Your Emotions

Most people experience lack of confidence when they are presenting as an emotional hijack they have no control over. Once the nerves start your body is taken over by your anxious and shallow breathing and racing heart beat. Butterflies begin their crazy flight in your stomach and the tension in your neck spreads down into your shoulders and travels down to your toes.  Sometimes the nerves start when you first find out you have a presentation coming up.  Then you have sleepless nights and anxious thoughts chase around in your brain - What if I forget what I've prepared? What if there's a glitch with the technology? What if people ask me awkward questions? What if... the list is endless. For some people the anxiety starts nearer the presentation - while you're waiting your turn, when you step on stage, while you're being introduced....Whenever the anxiety starts, the even worse thought is that if you lack confidence on stage all your worst fears are more likely to come about - you feel doomed because you absolutely know you'll fluff your lines, forget the most impressive point, stutter over the perceptive question and and everyone will see you're clutching your notes with a nervous grip. You know you'll also sentence yourself to endless replays of the worst moments and the things you should have said will haunt your brain.

No wonder research has found that most people fear public speaking more than death. Why is that? My guess is that we've been brought up to fear making a mistake in front of lots of people. For example, think of the ridicule heaped on kids at school by their fellow students and sometimes even their teachers for making small mistakes and giving 'wrong' answers.

The trouble is that a lot of the things we want most in life - career and business success, making a difference in the world, influencing others with our ideas, being known as an expert, making sales, championing a worthy cause, teaching so people learn, entertaining an audience and connecting with people in our work and personal lives depends on our ability to present confidently and  naturally. You have probably noticed that when you are feeling successful, motivated, happy and confident you are more likely to do the right things to get you what you want.

 Useful States for Presenters

It would be useful for you to be and feel confident, motivated, excited, enthusiastic, competent, assertive, powerful and many other positive states when presenting, wouldn't it?  Master presenters are able to create these emotions in themselves whenever they need them. And when they do that, they often lead their audiences to feel that way too.

Managing Your State

So how can you manage your emotions when you are preparing for and delivering a presentation? If you are feeling nervous or uncertain about a presentation, it is just a signal that you need to do more preparation on one or more of 7 levels. Here are some suggestions for causes of uncertainty at each level and ways in which you could prepare so that you feel confident:

1. Purpose/Goal/outcome: If you are uncertain at this level, it is possible that your purpose in giving the presentation is more to do with enhancing your reputation and seeking perfection.

 You have probably noticed that when you are focussed on contributing and giving a gift you are often able to forget yourself and focus on the needs of others instead and then perform better. So, a way to regain your confidence on this level is by focussing on giving the gift of your expertise, valuable information, encouragement, feedback and other things you think that you can contribute. The great thing is that when you do this you are more likely to enhance your reputation and achieve excellence anyway! 

2. How you think of yourself: If you are uncertain at this level it is possible that you do not think of yourself as a presenter or a valuable contributor. To regain confidence at this level, you could start to think of yourself as a presenter, learner, leader, contributor, catalyst for change and any other identity you think would be useful. Find evidence in your life to support these ways of thinking of yourself.

3. Values: Values are about what is important to you. If you are feeling uncertain at this level, it is possible that you value certainty, your significance and perfection above contribution, adventure, learning and growth and connection. You may be asking yourself lots of questions that create doubt in you, like: ‘What will they think of me?’ What if it goes wrong?’ What if someone asks me a question I can’t answer?’

 To regain confidence at this level you could ask yourself questions that put you in a resourceful state and relate to the values of contribution, learning and connection, such as: ‘How can I ensure that the presentation is effective and engaging for my audience?’ ‘What questions are they likely to ask and what answers shall I prepare?’

 4. Beliefs: Beliefs are about what we think is true. There is enough evidence in the world to believe anything we want to believe and so we might as well hold beliefs that support us.

If you are experiencing uncertainty at this level, these might be some of the beliefs that you hold: if I make a mistake people will think badly of me forever; it is bad to make mistakes; something will go wrong and I will look foolish; I am not a good presenter; they will find out that I am not as good as they thought; they know more than I do; my contribution is not worthwhile; if I feel confident people will think I’m arrogant or I won’t prepare properly etc.

 To regain confidence on this level you could believe: there is no failure only feedback; everyone makes a worthwhile contribution in their way; mistakes are just an opportunity to learn and grow; whatever happens I will handle it, etc. Find evidence to make the old negative beliefs look ridiculous and to strengthen the new and positive beliefs.

 5. Skills: Uncertainty at this level is about not knowing how to do something that would allow you to create a successful presentation. For instance, you might not be certain about how to stand and deliver, how to work a projector, how to create a Power Point presentation or how to keep your audience engaged in what you're saying.

To regain certainty at this level, identify the skills you need to develop and then seek training, feedback and practise. Find role models for the presentation styles you like and copy them.

 6. Behaviour: Uncertainty at this level is created if you are not doing the things you need to do to create a successful presentation.

To gain confidence at this level you need to plan and practise so that you use all the relevant skills well and unconsciously, just like you do when you are driving a car.

Bonus Tips:

In our neurology, our states and emotions are wired to our body language. So, one of the most important things to do at this level is to stand and move with a body language that helps you to experience the state you want. For instance, if you want to feel confident, stand taller, relax your shoulders, breath deeply and move more deliberately.

 7. Resources and Environment: Uncertainty at this level is about not having the time, equipment, assistance, space, etc. that you need to make your presentation successful.

To restore confidence at this level you need to make sure that you gather the resources and create the environment you need or work out ways to get round any challenges in this area. One useful resource is  a coach who can help you develop your confidence and the skills to present impactfully.

If you would like to find out more about how to present confidently, naturally and skilfully contact Madeleine Morgan for a free Discovery Session. We'll discuss your current challenges and abilities related to presenting, what you'd like to achieve, what is getting in the way and what resouces you need to present the way you would like to. C all Cambridge 01223 426392 or email mm@buildingselfconfidence.co.uk