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Video Transcript

Welcome to this final session in this series where we're talking about how you can overcome fear and anxiety when it comes to public speaking. And over the last few times that we've been together we've talked about how our body perceives public speaking and standing up and giving a presentation as a real threat. And we need to find ways to tap into the part of our brain that undoes that a little bit and helps us to calm down. And so I've given you this acronym, I've said to give yourself CPR and the first part of that we talked about a couple of times ago is to learn to control everything you can control. And the "P" of that acronym is to begin to plan and prepare and practice and now we come to this final step and the final step is quite simply this you need to find ways to release the pressure, find ways to release the pressure and simply I'll give you two tips here.

The first tip is to find a pre-presentation routine that works for you to find a pre-presentation routine that works for you. Some people have a song they like to listen to other people, like to go and grab a cup of coffee and be away from their notes for a couple of moments. But find a routine that works for you.

Something I like to do before I go and speak or present is to physically do something that counter acts what happens in our bodies as we start to get nervous. When we feel that anxiety things in our body begin to constrict, our heart races faster and so I find it really helpful if I can, if I'm in the appropriate place to spread my arms wide, close my eyes take a deep breath and tell myself that there's no place I'd rather be. And even if you can't spread your arms wide, chances are you can take a moment and close your eyes, take a deep breath and tell yourself this is a great opportunity and that there's no place you would rather be.

Picture yourself giving a successful presentation and just doing that can help to release the pressure. So find a pre-presentation routine that works for you. My second tip is this, remember the audience is for you. When's the last time you sat in a presentation and were glad when someone struggled, you may have been bored, but when's the last time you were there and you were just happy to see that person struggling up in front of you? When's the last time you were going into a presentation are going to hear a speech and you were hopeful that the person failed? I really hope you cannot remember the last time you felt that way.

And yet for some reason when it's our turn to speak and we stand up in front of an audience, we forget that the audience is for us that they're not a bunch of harsh judges and critics hoping that we fail. We can feel that that's what they're thinking. But the reality is is they are for us, they are cheering us on, they don't want us to waste their time. They want us to succeed. They want us to inspire them and connect with them and give them information that is relevant to helping them get through their work day or get through their day in general. And so it's a helpful reminder to remember that the audience is on our side. Even the harshest judge and critic on one of those talent shows that's on TV is hoping that the person that comes out onto the stage does well. So if you want to release the pressure before your next performance, find a pre-presentation routine that works for you. And also remember find a way to remind yourself all those people sitting in that boardroom, all those people in that conference hall, all the people sitting in that ballroom for that presentation, they are for you, they're on your side. They hope that you succeed.

You know, we never grow tired of people who can stand up in front of us and present ideas with clarity and confidence. Even with all the other ways we have to communicate with one another, we still love it when someone can get up and present ideas in ways that move us and connect with us and cause us to act and I'm excited for you because if you can continue to grow and learn to speak with confidence and clarity, you will experience success that you never thought possible.

I know it's difficult to stand up and speak in a world where everyone is talking and no one has time to listen. And I spent a lot of my time helping people overcome anxiety and find clarity so they can inspire others to action. And I'm excited for you and your journey because you are going to go from here and you're going to present with newfound confidence and that is going to serve you well in whatever it is you do. So thank you so much for taking this journey with me. I hope you found something in here helpful and good luck as you go and speak.

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