Before the Presentation

•     Get as much rest as possible the night before.

•     Select clothing you feel comfortable in for conducting your presentation.

•     Arrive early to verify the room setup and get yourself
organized before any attendees arrive.

•     Meet/greet the attendees as they arrive. Shake hands.
Try to gain some insights into their expectations. Also
try to remember some of the names if you don't al­
ready know the people.

•     Just before beginning, relax by

-      Taking a couple of deep breaths and blowing them
out slowly through your mouth

-      Saying something encouraging to yourself, such
as, "It's going to be a good session, and I'm going
to enjoy it."

•   Accept nervousness as an energizer that helps keep
you on your toes and performing at your best.

During the Presentation

•     Have a glass of water to keep your throat wet and
give you time to think.

•     Use notes.

•     Make eye contact.

•     Address people by names.

•     Move around the room.

SUMMARY

Now you know about presentation anxiety and have learned some simple techniques for handling it. You also have a checklist of things to do in preparing for a pre­sentation. So be confident that you really can easily do this whether it be your next team meeting or a formal presentation to hundreds of people.

Continued

Part 1  Part 2   Part 3  Part 4  Part 5  Part 6