Presentation Anxiety
It’s normal to be anxious or nervous when giving a presentation, but there are ways that presentation anxiety can be reduced.
Before your presentation, build your confidence through knowledge.
- Remember that the focus is not on you, but on your message
- Remind yourself of the value of your ideas
- Educate yourself about the facts and build a passion for what you’re talking about
Learn and use public speaking techniques that will improve your presentation.
- Start with an attention grabber
- Use a pre-planned structure, like a beginning, middle, and end
- Engage the audience with eye contact or tools (ie. polls, Q&A)
- Don’t be afraid of silence
- Use effective body language
- Practice!
Identify the cause of your anxiety so you can use specific techniques to reduce it.
- A new skill? Work on skill development and practice
- Perfectionism? Practice mindfulness, use this event as a lesson learned
- General stress? When not directly related to the presentation, focus on destressing strategies (ie. yoga, mindfulness, journaling, music)
- Glossophobia (fear of public speaking)? Discuss with a counsellor at the Student Wellness Centre
- The event? With pressure to succeed at the event, concentrate on preparation, building knowledge, and practicing
Other strategies to try:
- Find opportunities to present regularly, or join a club where there is a lot speaking
- Focus on one audience member rather than the whole crowd
- Watch TED Talks and observe how the presenters speak, move, etc.
- Use appropriate humour in your presentation
Improve your writing and study skills! Book an appointment with a writing advisor and/or academic coach on OSCARplus. Questions? Email skills@mcmaster.ca.
References
“Fear of Public Speaking.” The Center for Treatment of Anxiety and Mood Disorders, https://centerforanxietydisorders.com/fear-of-public-speaking/.
Sawchuk, Craig N. “Fear of Public Speaking: How Can I Overcome It?” Mayo Clinic, 17 May 2017, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/specific-phobias/expert-answers/fear-of-public-speaking/faq-20058416.