It’s pretty easy to see why, to your panicked mind, you might be justifiably concerned about giving a presentation at work:
- You are inevitably going to mess it up, get fired, and have to work in some job you despise until the day you die, miserable and unfulfilled having never achieved any of your goals.
- You are inevitably…
Okay, take it back a notch – though anyone who has ever given a work presentation will know just how terrifying they can be. Whether it’s your first or your fiftieth, there’s still that niggling feeling that you’re somehow on trial. That you’re being judged. You have all the eyes on you and even if you’re not responsible for the good/bad news that you’re conveying to your colleagues, it still kind of feels like you are.
Unless you are the most confident extrovert to ever extrovert, the chances are that some of the above sounds familiar. Presentations are rough, and there’s a reason why everyone is always on the lookout for ideas regarding better presentation skills. While some of the intense detail of presentations is going to be very unique to your job and can’t be learned from a generic discussion, what you can learn is how to control your nerves.
Nerves may not be the only issue you have blighting your ability to give work presentations, but they play a huge role in the majority of issues that people suffer. There’s no need for it to be like that. If you can learn to control your nerves, the rest of the process will be far simpler. It, therefore, follows that if you take the time to learn a few self-calming methods, you’re going to be one step closer to a flawless presentation.
#1 – Talk To One Person In The Room
If it’s the size of the group that troubles you, focus on one person. It helps if this is someone you know and are friends with; your boss isn’t a great option as they might wonder why you’re staring. Instead, focus on one person as if you are just giving the presentation to them.
#2 – Use Power Poses
Research has indicated that if you adopt positive body language prior to a significant event, you’ll feel more able to cope. These so-called “power poses” literally trick your brain chemistry and will allow you to feel an instant wave of calm. Try a few in the bathroom close to the time your presentation is due to start; they might make all the difference.
#3 – Try Acupressure
You might not be convinced by the idea of techniques such as acupressure, but this is definitely one that falls into the “harmless to try” category. The spot you are looking to pressure is on the underside of your wrist; it’s known as pericardium 6, and it’s relatively simple to find.
The belief goes that if you apply gentle but firm pressure to this acupressure point, it can make you feel instantly more relaxed. How true that is is a matter for debate, but why not try it and see if it allows you work presentations to fly by without a care in the world.
