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Argh... I have been asked to make a presentation at work!
| Published: 8th April 2014 11:57 |
Argh... I have been asked to make a presentation at work!
Part 1: Where do I start!?
an article on Best Killer Presentations by Your Presentation coach, Hélène
So you have been expecting this promotion, you are pleased with yourself and then your boss drops the bombshell:
"As part of your new position, you need to present to the board and the next meeting is... ."
You do not hear the rest but vaguely understand that you have only - you mean only?- a week to get your act together and to make the best and most importantly the right impression to the board . Your heart already starts to beat faster, your hands are sweaty and you are feeling queasy. Although you knew you would have to present, there is an unsettling feeling growing inside you and the questions come incessantly like an unwanted wave on the beach at the time of an oil slick:
"What if they think I am an idiot? What if I forget something, what if I cannot answer their questions? What happens next if I freeze? Won't they see I am so nervous inside?"
These irrational thoughts are then followed by statement of doubts:
"I can't do it. I am not good enough. I will look silly. My accent is silly. I am...." and, by now, your body is overwhelmed by fear and you are ready to top yourself! Ok, ok, maybe I exaggerate, or I thought I was until a client of mine - who used to be so scared of presenting - admitted that she actually once threw up in front of the audience as she was walking onto the stage!... Not a nice sight!
I might have made the images a little too vivid and OTT for the sake of this article, but you must know that we all experience some fear at different degrees. Let's see what you can do to make the big day an acceptable and even an enjoyable experience. Help is at hand and "moi", ze speaking coach, can hold your sweaty hand and calm your shaky heart!
You start with ...
1/ Accepting that you will always be at least a bit scared!
I have experience of speaking with my teaching and training career and I also speak in public these days. Still, I can get scared at times... I have learnt to control that fear. It is that same fear that makes me prepare thoroughly before I speak. I especially use the fear of being unprepared as a positive feeling instead of a nasty one, do the same!
2/ Getting yourself organised and make a list
- ● Who are you talking to?
- ● To what purpose, what do "they" want to get out of it and what is your ultimate objective? Is it passing on information, or influencing a decision, or entertaining "them" or a sales presentation?
- ● How much time have you been given to make your presentation?
- ● What do you need for it? Is Powerpoint appropriate or detrimental to your presentation. "Death by powerpoint" is a common occurrence and the solution is simple: keep it simple, keep your slides to a maximum of 3 bullet points and lots of appropriate images to illustrate your point. By appropriate, I mean appropriate to your audience!
- ● Where are you presenting? what space do you use, have you got access to a projector, a laptop?
3/ Starting writing...!
Writing a presentation always take more time than we think especially if the material is quite new to you. You need to give yourself some time and do not leave it at the last minute as your heart will be beating even faster bordering on the heart attack, if you do!
...and asking for help....
- ● A colleague in your company might have already written the presentation you need, so that you do not have to reinvent the wheel!
- ● Larger companies will have a training officer who should be able to advise or support you to some extent, if not they should so do tell them!
- ● Some might even provide you with a strong experienced mentor, just ask!
- ● Ask for support from close ones too, there are your best support!
Next time, I will look at my best tips when fears embraces you before your presentation . in Ze meantime break a leg preparing your presentation.
Your speaking coach: Hélène Mussois a French national who decided in her 20's that England was a nicer country than France to live in. Whilst most of her British friends would disagree with her, she managed in her "madness" to become a drama teacher and has spent the last 20 years tutoring your son/daughter/cousin in schools across Essex. She has now decided that you need help too, even as an adult. She helps and gives confidence to the reluctant presenters. She has been praised for creating a safe and supportive environment whilst bringing challenges too. Hélène also does not take no for an answer. So if you decide to work with her on one of your presentations, she will make you practise, practise, practise and will give tools to be the best you can be! She is the co-director of Media Confidence with fellow french Vincent Leleu who produces amazing videos for your business. You can find her at helene@mediaconfidence.co.uk, 07875627485 or on Facebook or LinkedIn. http://mediaconfidence.co.uk/
Argh... I have been asked to make a presentation at work!
an article on Best Killer Presentations by Your Presentation coach, Hélène
Part 2-Help, I am too scared to speak!
As I said last time, get over it, you will always be scared!
and if you are not, it might indicate that you are bored or disengaged yourself and frankly you are not quite "normal", sorry only joking!
Why are we so scared anyway ? After all are we going to be eaten alive by a wild animal? Not quite but it is? let ‘s consider 3 main fears
1/ "They will look at me and judge me! Help!"
Audiences want you to be successful . They do not wish to be bored and if they are in front of you, they want you to do well as they will enjoy it more and learn more from you. So do not think that they will judge you and assume undivided support for the length of your speech up until you are proved otherwise. Now, this is important. I have been a teacher for years and some of your audiences as a teacher are reluctant teenagers, that you have to engage in a fast manner and with much consideration to a short attention span and a desire to rock the boat! However adults audiences are very different and will be listening to you! What is difficult from the speaker's point of view is that a captivated audience might look very serious at times especially if the point you are making is serious. You might interpret this as them being bored- wrong ! They are attentively listening to you and therefore are keeping a straight face so leave your own judgement at the door and believe in yourself that they are with you and listening to you!
2/ "I do not like to be the centre of attention so how can I expect to stand in front of others!?"
This is more common than I originally thought and I came to the conclusion that it is partly a cultural and gender issue. Women in the UK especially are being brought up to be respectful of others which is fantastic but the flip side of that means that often they put themselves in situations in which they avoid being seen and visible and shining in front of others. In some culture, especially in Asia and amongst Arab countries looking at someone in the eye is considered too bold and too rude, especially for a woman. Although I am not British and I have had to speak in front of kids for over 15 years of my life, I had to overcome this in order to develop a business. I am forced to be visible because it has become a necessity to my survival. However, even if you do not have to develop a business, changing that perception and accepting that it is ok to be visible can be the first hurdle you need to overcome. Speaking with assurance in front of others gives you a great sense of achievement and increases your confidence and your own self-esteem, so taking the first step is essential!
So if in fear, start small , start talking to a few , then to a larger group . Get used to the eye contact and smile! - this will help you to relax and people will be drawn to you. You will see that you can do it and do reward yourself for having taken a small step as the journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step. So do it !
3/ "I am stressed, Help, I am panicking!"
Stress comes as a normal reaction of the body when we put ourselves in a situation of threat. Whilst some stress is good to get you going, it can be debilitating if you can not move, speak and feel an overwhelming sense of fear. This can happen to anyone and it is not rational but you can develop techniques to overcome it.
Now picture this!
You are in the jungle and you hear background noises. You stop still and your heart starts to pound. You turn round and in the undergrowth you see the shape of a large and fierce lion and before you have time to think any further you see the large creature jumping towards you with force and hear the roar. Now the best response would to run (flight) but some of us would freeze (freeze) and the brave ones would fight. I would run and scream!
The fight-or-flight response (also called the fight-or-flight-or-freeze response, hyperarousal, or the acute stress response) is our response to stressful situations. Obviously, the likelihood of being attacked by a lion in the middle of London or Paris is pretty remote unless a local zoo has left a cage open by accident!
So what can you do to temper this?
- My best answer is to use your breathing to calm your down. Breathing is so natural to us that we forget to use it to help us to cope. Take several deep breaths preferably just before speaking. It brings oxygen to your brain and has an instant calming effect. If you can isolate yourself for a while before your speech, try the alternative nostril breathing used in Yoga, whereby you breathe in through one nostril whilst covering the other nostril with one of your fingers, you then hold your breath on a count of 4 and then release the air and then change nostril. When done properly, it is a real treat.
- Tame your inner demon and bring your voice angel to the forefront- There is a technique used in the drama classroom called the Angel and Devil and they represent the good and the bad conscience.The demon will try to put you down whereas the angel voice will bring reassurance. In this struggle taking place in your mind, you need to listen to the kind and soothing voice of your good/Angel voice as it will calm you down and make you more prepared.
- Visualise your successful speech, hear it smell it, feel it, see people's smiles after the speech. Visualisation is commonly used in sports before important sports' events and help you to feel ready for anything!
Hélène Musso is a French national who decided in her 20's that England was a nicer country than France to live in. Whilst most of her British friends would disagree with her, she managed in her "madness" to become a drama teacher and has spent the last 20 years tutoring your son/daughter/cousin in schools across Essex. She has now decided that you need help too, even as an adult. She helps and gives confidence to the reluctant presenters. She has been praised for creating a safe and supportive environment whilst bringing challenges too. Hélène also does not take no for an answer. So if you decide to work with her on one of your presentations, she will make you practise, practise, practise and will give tools to be the best you can be! She is the co-director of Media Confidence with fellow french Vincent Leleu who produces amazing videos for your business. You can find her at helene@mediaconfidence.co.uk, 07875627485 or on Facebook or LinkedIn and her website is http://mediaconfidence.co.uk/
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