Over the past month, I facilitated 3 separate workshops on Presenting for 3 different companies. And there was one consistent theme. Any guesses what it was?
The participants were NOT looking forward to the practice sessions. Some were even dreading it. [I’m well used to that, and worked super hard to create a safe learning space!]
One admitted after she’d delivered hers, that she’d primed up a colleague to burst in with an ‘urgent’ work problem
One had a phone call from her child’s school and confessed she’d hoped they were ill so she could go home, pick them up and avoid presenting
One left the room before her practice and it took A LOT of coaching and guidance for her to feel able to present [she did, and she smashed it]
Perhaps you feel the same way about presenting as the participants did?
Let’s remember first of all why we feel that way. I love the Dr Russ Harris [doctor, author of The Happiness Trap and ACT Therapist] quote “our brains are ‘don’t get eaten’ machines, designed to protect us from harm“. And presenting is well-known to be one of the top prompts to kick us straight into fight or flight mode, to keep us ‘safe’ from Psychological harm.
So my first suggestion to any of you who feel those nerves is to focus on ways to accept them and dilute their impact on you. You can learn all the best presentation techniques in the World, but without overcoming the nerves, they won’t shine.
Of course, the ‘nerves’ aren’t just saved for presentations; they can and do stop us from achieving so much of what we want in life. One of the simplest and best tools I picked up when I took my Post Graduate Certificate in Coaching was the focus on ‘CHOICE’.
Sometimes simply becoming aware of how we’re feeling and that we have a choice to make in what we’re telling ourselves can be game-changing.
For example, instead of thinking: “I’m terrified, what if it all goes wrong? What if I make a mistake? What if I forget the key points?”, you could notice that you’re feeling nervous, say something out loud like “thanks brain, but I’ve got this”, and instead focus on the excitement of what opportunities the presentation will create. “What if it goes brilliantly, I get my points across and [insert the benefit to you here!]”
Anchoring is another technique that has really helped me, using touch, smell and sounds to create the state / feelings that I’d prefer. (My anchoring weapons are: pinching thumb and forefinger together, my favourite perfume and listening to Mr Brightside!)
Would love to know what helps you! Don’t be a stranger – Leave a Comment below.
