During the presentation: overcoming nerves
After all these years, I still get nervous, before a presentation.
The important thing you learn is how to channel those nerves, and the simple answer to that is is focus on your audience.
The best advice I can give to people presenting, to students is: make it about them, not about you. And the reason that's powerful is it's very easy to get trapped into focusing on yourself, being self-conscious, thinking: 'What are they thinking of me?' They're, you know, 'nobody's smiling'. 'They all look a bit grim.' And 'why is my voice going tight? And are they judging me?'
The energy turns inwards, it's gone: me, me, me, me.
You end up projecting your anxiety and your lack of confidence.
Whereas, forget about 'you', in a way, you're not a rock star. You know, it's not really about you. It's about the subject.
You know, that's there in the air. You are the vehicle for that message to come through and
connect with the audience.
So focus on them.
Make it interesting for them. Make it clear for them to understand engaging for them. Amaze them, amuse them. You know, excite them. Make them 'think'.
You know, it's a it's a wonderful power you have.
An opportunity to really engage your audience. And to send out ideas that might inspire them.
I always think with a presentation something should change in the room because of that presentation. They shouldn't go out the same way they came in.
