With event season well and firmly underway, I have a large-scale flagship next week and my conference speakers are all asking me one thing:
“How can I manage my nerves on the day?”
So, for those who feel nervous before a conference presentation, while there is no one-size-fits-all solution, I have collated some practical tips to help you ease yourself into the spotlight:
(Disclaimer: it doesn’t involve “imagining the audience naked”!)
Channel Your Anxiety
Rather than viewing nervousness as a hindrance, consider it a sign that you care deeply about your presentation.
Feeling nervous is a natural response to wanting to perform well and represent your organisation positively.
Understand Your Fears
What specifically makes you nervous about public speaking?
Is it the fear of being judged, making a mistake or forgetting what you prepared to say?
Once you establish your concerns, you can take proactive steps to address them, such as adequately practising your presentation or lines and bringing prompt cards for reference.
Also, be reassured that nobody is sitting there waiting for you to fail. Everyone in the room wants you to succeed and do a great job up there.
Accept Your Nervousness
Nerves aren’t the most pleasant sensation. We’d all rather feel relaxed and content all of the time.
But for these sorts of occasions, it is better to acknowledge and accept nerves as a normal part of the speaking experience.
Remind yourself that feeling nervous doesn’t equate to failure; it simply means that you’re stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself.
In other words, nervousness = growth.
You Don’t Have To Be Perfect
Release the pressure on yourself to deliver a flawless performance and instead focus on being prepared and authentic.
Understand that making mistakes is an inevitable part of the learning process.
Trust in your preparation and ability to recover gracefully if things don’t go as planned.
As long as you are putting in the effort to prepare thoroughly and do yourself justice then that is all that matters.
Chances are your audience won’t even realise if you make a mistake anyway!
This video and accompanying article are a prime example of that!
How You Perform Is Not Linked To Your Self-Worth
Public speaking is just a skill that can be developed and improved over time.
Your value as a person is not tied into your performance on stage, so avoid equating any shortcomings in your presentation with your self-worth. Nip that in the bud immediately!
Still A No To Scripts
While it’s tempting to rely on word-for-word scripts for reassurance that you won’t forget anything, doing so will hinder authentic connection with your audience.
And this will make you feel more nervous…
Instead, focus on understanding your material thoroughly and delivering it conversationally, this allows for natural spontaneity and engagement.
Eye Contact And Questions
Create a dialogue with your audience through eye contact and interactive elements such as questions or discussions.
When your time on stage feels like an exchange it is a far less nerve-wracking experience than feeling like you’re just speaking at people.
Inject Personality
A good presentation or speech is personalised.
Embrace authenticity and don’t be afraid to let your true self shine through.
Just because it’s a conference, doesn’t mean it can’t be coloured with individuality and personality.
Your authentic participation will contribute to making the event more engaging and memorable.
It’s incredible how much more enjoyable and less nerve-wracking these situations become when you show up as yourself.
Meditate
Prior to your presentation, consider practising mindfulness or meditation techniques to calm your nerves and centre yourself.
Choose a guided meditation focused on confidence, success, or positivity to help cultivate a sense of calm and readiness for going on stage.
Make Connections
Take the opportunity to connect with fellow speakers, attendees, and event organisers before you go on stage.
Building rapport and exchanging friendly conversations can help ease your nerves and create a sense of familiarity with the audience.
Seeing some smiley faces in the crowd will also provide a reassuring boost of confidence as you prepare to deliver your presentation.
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I hope these tips help calm your pre-conference jitters.
Good luck to everyone speaking at a conference this year!
Tilly x
I’ve also written a guide on overcoming glossophobia (the fear of public speaking).
For more articles on conference public speaking, click here.
