Several users have mentioned that they get nervous when speaking or presenting. This is perfectly normal and can be managed appropriately. There are many ways to get rid of speech anxiety, but here we list a few simple ways to overcome it.
- Practice
Practice brings confidence. Use the Speech Recognition tool to make sure you are not forgetting any key points you want to mention and keep track of pace and use of filler words. If you feel confident with what you are going to say, this brings a big relief to anxiety. - Arrive early
Two important points here. First of all, it is terrible to arrive to a meeting place (virtual or in person) and start speaking immediately. The stress of being on time adds to the stress of speaking and this is certainly counterproductive. Secondly, arriving early to a meeting allows you to familiarize with your public. A little small talk with the audience before presenting eases the nerves. - Engage from the start
You do not have to go straight into the content you need to present. Break the ice with something amusing that may have happened to you before you got to the meeting, or tell the audience about something interesting you recently read. You want to make sure people have their eyes and ears on you from the start. - Prepare the space
Whether the meeting is virtual or in person, make sure you are familiar with the setting and you feel comfortable. If you are presenting virtually, check this post https://blog.speecherapp.com/easy-fixes-video-calls/ for tips on preparing for a video call. If you will present in person, check that you will not have any technical difficulties; again, arrive early! - Breeeeeeathe
Game changer. Take deep breaths and, if possible, do some stretching. Get rid of excess energy and bring your heartbeat down. So simple, but so effective! - Do not rush
Anxiety sometimes makes people rush through the content. Use pauses. Feel comfortable with pauses. Practice pausing and looking into the eyes of your audience. You will automatically know when is the correct moment to continue speaking. Use pauses in a smart way, mainly when you want an idea to stick or if you want to switch to another idea/chapter/slide/section. - You do not look as nervous as you feel
If you doubt this, film yourself. Don’t forget you have available the Speecher Coach feature that allows you to get feedback on videos. You can also send videos to the Speecher Community.
If this post has been helpful, put into practice what you have learned with the Speecher app: https://speecherapp.com/app