Eliminating Speaker Jitters
Author: Sandra Schrift
Date Created: March 28th 2006
Last Updated: February 21st 2009
Sandra Schrift is a speaker bureau owner and now
career coach to emerging and veteran public speakers who
want to "grow" a
profitable speaking business. She also works with business
professionals and organizations who want to master their
presentations.
Visit her site to find out how you can make it as a professional speaker
- Nervousness is fear of failure. Here
is the secret of conquering anxiety. Become message-centered
and audience-centered, not self-centered.
Stop thinking of yourself, and start thinking of your message.
- If you are thoroughly prepared, your internal nervousness
seldom shows. Prepare 150%.
- Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Talk out loud,
and walk around while you practice. Use the same physical energy
you plan to use on the day of your presentation. Practice in
the car. If you can concentrate while driving, you will be able
to
pull it from your unconscious when are you in front of the
group. Make your points sound off-the-cuff and conversational.
- Practice in front of your mirror. Make
your points sound spontaneous and conversational.
- Exercise is an antidote to stress. Arrive early and take
a brisk walk for at least five minutes. If it is raining or snowing
outside, you can still do some body stretches.
- Abstain from caffeine and alcohol before you speak. You
don’t
need more jitters. Always wear your favorite outfit use attractive
colors. Women, go simple on the jewelry. Avoid too much black
and white.
- For trembling hands, place your hands on the side of your
chair and count to 10 as you try to lift the seat. This is an
isometric
exercise that works… and nobody will notice you doing it.
- Don't be perfect - give yourself permission to make mistakes.
People are not perfect in real life.
- Remember, you want to be nervous. It can be a positive reaction.
You don't want to eliminate the butterflies in your stomach;
you want to get them to fly in formation. When that happens,
you will
have converted your stress into speaking power!
- Most of all - enjoy yourself and have fun. SMILE. After all, aren’t you glad to be there? The sign of a mature adult is that you are not taking yourself too seriously.
