More confident presentations http://www.qed-consultancy.co.uk Copyright Jeremy Thorn QED www.qed-consultancy.co.uk en-us Understand that some fear of public speaking is quite natural If you have no fear, something may well go wrong! We all need that adrenalin rush, to focus on doing a difficult job excellently. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Know your subject, plan carefully and rehearse diligently to overcome any concerns you may have When you have all this under your belt, you will have nothing to fear, and nor will your audience! Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Relax. Audiences hate a tense presenter Good relaxation exercises include clenching and unclenching muscles throughout your body in turn and breathing slowly and deeply before you start. For those who may be frightened of their audience, some recommend imagining them with no clothes on. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Slow down. The tendency when nervous is to rush, and then become incoherent So take your time, all of it! Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Focus. The night before you do your presentation, imagine what it will be like, step by step, and go to sleep envisioning your success That's what international athletes are trained to do before a big event, and it works for presentations too. This way you will be much more confident as you go into what will no longer seem to be such a strange situation. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Remove the anonymity of your audience by mingling with a few before you start if you can Find out their names and interests, and address part of your presentation to them as friendly faces in a sea of strangers. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Smile. It will help relax both you and your audience People warm to a positive speaker. But if you are nervous, so will they be. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Learn at least the opening and ending of your presentation by heart You will be amazed how much confidence this will give you, first to get launched, and secondly to know where you are headed. As these are the most difficult stages of any presentation, knowing these by heart will remove a large part of the difficulty. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 'Fake it 'till you make it'. If you don't feel confident, act as though you are Your audience will thank you and soon, you really will feel confident as you proceed. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Aim first to build the trust, respect and confidence of your audience Demonstrate shared values, your empathy and your willing participation in matters of interest to your audience. Then build up a rationale for what you have to say. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Be aware of your audience's probable preconceptions and address them. Otherwise you or your message may well be misunderstood. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Signal the subject, structure and timing of your presentation Don't let the audience find out only at the end or they will get restless. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Prepare some model answers to questions you might reasonably expect, by playing 'Devil's Advocate' Decide what questions would you ask if you were in your audience. Then plan your answers in advance. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Know that a well-handled question can: - strengthen your case. - underline your credibility. - clarify misunderstandings/assumptions. - increase interest and participation. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Be aware also that a badly-handled question can:- damage your credibility - expose any weakness - lose you control Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Stay in control, and stay cool Don't rise to the bait of provocation or perceived insult. Neither will help support your case. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Listen carefully to questions and statements from your audience, and show you are listening Even if you disagree, give your challenger the benefit of having listened to the challenge fully. You will also buy more thinking time this way before you answer. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Pause. Don't pounce, or sound glib. Show empathy, sympathy, tact and understanding, however much you may disagree Some challenges may actually be no more than emotional outbursts, which just need to be vented. They may demand no answer from you, other than appreciation and understanding of another point of view. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Repeat the question back, perhaps in a new form, to buy time and show you have listened to it Listen very carefully. Then decide what is the real objection or point at issue. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Seek clarification as the question may not be the one you thought it was. Seek clarification if you need to and check any assumptions that may be implicit in the question or comment. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Offer some understanding or agreement: such as: 'Yes, it does look..', 'I understand why you might..' This doesn't mean you necessarily agree, but it does show some willingness to acknowledge another's point of view. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Isolate the issues, if necessary, to help you reply convincingly Some questions may well contain several points to be addressed which, if not separated, may only serve to confuse the issue - and you! Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Answer any question if you possibly can Don't be defensive though, it will make your answer much weaker. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Stick to the facts and say you don't know if you do not This is far better than making an answer up as you go along, which may well come back to haunt you. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Avoid any personality battles; address the issues These are what the rest of the audience will really want you to address. Unless you are objectionable too, your audience is far more likely to be on your side than that of an ill-mannered and hostile questioner. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Invite reaction or comment from others if you are not sure how to reply This can buy you time, deflect any attack and encourage others to participate. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Note any questions for later review and consideration If you promise to do something later, you should follow though. You are unlikely to remember what it was unless you write it down. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Prepare, prepare, prepare This means sound planning and disciplined rehearsal until you are confident. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Practise on your feet, at least 3 to 6 times, in front of mirror This will both help you to remember your presentation and let you check your visual impact. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Get others whom you trust to listen to your rehearsal Check that you come across as interesting, sincere, enthusiastic, warm and emphatic. If they have comments to make, be ready to act on them. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Concentrate on the beginning and ending, and memorise both, at the least This will substantially improve your confidence and impact Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Weed out any irrelevancies and gaffes It is so easy for these to creep in as you buy preparation time when you think on your feet, when you first rehearse without notes. But better to spot them and eliminate them now, rather than when it matters! Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Good presentations become stunning with brilliant phrases, images and ideas Make a note of any brilliant phrases, images and ideas that come to mind as you practice, and incorporate them. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Visualise your audience as you rehearse This will help you to build confidence and focus at least as much on them, as your material. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Decide what presentation aids you really need, and tell the organizers Don't leave it to chance. Chances are, they won't have thought of your needs! Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25 Copyright Jeremy Thorn QED www.qed-consultancy.co.uk Jeremy Thorn is a prize-winning author and Chairman of Quantum Enterprise Development (QED), a multi-functional management consultancy and development company based in Doncaster, England, dedicated to making good businesses better, encouraging customers to be more loyal and to helping employees and suppliers be more effective. Engineering Adventures Ltd 2007-03-25