presentation nerves training

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Don’t Let Anxiety Sabotage Your Next Presentation

• Riaz Meghji

Stop focusing on yourself and start focusing on your audience.

If you want to beat speaking anxiety, you need to stop focusing on yourself and point your focus outward. This shift isn’t something that can happen instantaneously. It takes time, patience, and practice. Here’s how to get started.

• Be a giver, not a taker. Takers tend to have more anxiety. They want and need validation from their listeners.
• Givers, on the other hand, are all about service. They do work beforehand to connect with stakeholders and use the information they receive to address the needs of their audience. As a result, their presentation becomes less about them and more about helping the other people in the room.
• If you want to turn your presentation into an act of service, you need to talk to the people in the room — well before your presentation begins.
• Choose about three to five influential leaders, and meet with them before to learn their concerns and goals surrounding the topic you’re presenting on.
• Then, incorporate your findings into you presentation. This will help you shift your focus outwards, from yourself to the audience, and as a result, ease some of your nerves.

How many times have you had an important message to share, only to be sabotaged by anxiety right before you speak?

• RM Riaz Meghji is a human connection keynote speaker, author of Every Conversation Counts: The 5 Habits of Human Connection That Build Extraordinary Relationships and creator of The Magnetic Presenter speaker coaching program. He is also an accomplished broadcaster with 17 years of television hosting experience. Riaz has hosted for Citytv’s Breakfast Television, MTV Canada, TEDxVancouver, CTV News, and the Toronto International Film Festival.  

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How to not be nervous for a presentation — 13 tips that work (really!)

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Why do I get nervous before presenting?

How not to be nervous when presenting, 5 techniques to control your nerves, quotes for inspiration, speak with confidence.

If you feel nervous or scared about talking to someone new, giving a speech, or being on stage, rest assured: you’re not alone. 

Experiencing symptoms of performance anxiety like an increased heart rate, trembling hands, or excessive sweating is perfectly normal. In fact, people often fear public speaking . But the more you’re immersed in these types of situations, the more comfortable you’ll become . 

We’ll explore how to not be nervous for a presentation and offer inspirational quotes to help you step out of your comfort zone.

Based on data from the National Social Anxiety Center, fear of public speaking is the most common phobia . The official term for this fear is glossophobia, colloquially termed stage fright.

Stage fright typically arises from the perception that when you're in front of a group of people, they'll judge you. The brain’s frontal lobe aids in memory, and when we’re stressed, increased stress hormones temporarily shut that region down . This is what causes us to freeze up and stop talking. 

There’s nothing wrong with being nervous. We all have different social comfort zones, communication styles, and presentation skills. But we can expand and improve our skills if we’re cognitively flexible .

Cognitive flexibility plays a big role in our behavior and attitudes and impacts our performance. You can use your fears as a catalyst for growth and learning — including giving a great presentation.

The following techniques will help you shift your thinking from reactive to proactive to combat nerves throughout the presentation experience:

Before the presentation:

1. Know your topic

Don’t wing it when it comes to presenting any topic. The better you understand your subject matter, the more confident you’ll feel. You can answer questions right away and won’t have to rely on your notes.

If there are a few points or any information you think might arise during the presentation or Q&A, research it and become comfortable speaking to the subject.

Here are a few ways to study: 

• Break down concepts onto notecards
• Practice answering questions  (especially the hard ones you hope no one asks)
• Explain complex information to peers and colleagues

2. Be organized

Take time to thoroughly plan each aspect of the presentation. Often, that means designing PowerPoint slides or other visual aids like videos. Clarify with the organizer what format and technology you’ll be using.

If it’ll be virtual, get your background and room organized, too. This ensures the presentation will go smoothly, in turn reducing stress.  Consider the following preparations:

• Invite your support network to the event
• Arrive early to set up tech and get comfortable in the space
• Practice timing your presentation with the time tracker you’ll use day-of
• Bring a water bottle and a snack
• Contact your manager or venue staff to discuss any accessibility or tech concerns

3. Practice, practice, practice

Whether you’re rehearsing in front of a mirror, family member, or pet, you can never practice enough. Ask for feedback about your body language , eye contact , and how loudly you project your voice.

If you’ll be giving the presentation on a video conference, record it on the platform to see how you look and sound.

4. Visualize your success

Thinking through possible outcomes is a great way to prepare — but it can also backfire on you. If you obsess over negative what-ifs, this failing mentality might become a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

The more often you fill your mind with positive thoughts and visualize your success, the more automatic they’ll be. Positive self-talk can make a big difference to your confidence. Run through the presentation — successfully — in your head.

During the presentation:

5. Focus on your material, not the audience

Your audience is there for your presentation — not to assess you. They’ll be looking at your colorful slides and listening to what you’re saying. Don’t let your mind fill with insecurities . 

6 . Don't fear silence

If your mind suddenly goes blank, that’s okay. It may seem like an eternity to you as you try to figure out what to say next, but it’s only a few seconds at most. 

Pausing isn’t a bad thing, anyway. You can use dramatic breaks advantageously to draw attention before the most important bits. 

7 . Speak slowly

Presentation anxiety often causes nervous energy, so we speak faster than normal. This might make you fumble your words or forget important details.

Slow down. Audience members will be thankful since they can understand you , and drawing out your speech will give you time to calm down, ground yourself , and stay organized.

8 . Take deep breaths and drink water

Breathing delivers oxygen to your brain, allowing you to think more clearly. Drinking water ups your energy, and also gives you a moment to pause. 

Smiling is a simple yet effective way to soothe your nerves. Doing so releases endorphins, helping you physically feel more confident. And a friendly face will make the audience more open to what you’re saying. 

10 . Remember the three "audience truths"

These include: 1) for the duration of the presentation, the audience believes you’re the expert, 2) they’re on your side, and 3) they don’t know when you make a mistake. 

After the presentation:

11. Recognize your success

Giving a presentation is something worth being proud of — celebrate it! In addition to family, friends, and coworkers, you deserve a high five from yourself, too.

1 2. Collect feedback

Feedback is a wonderful gift if you use it as a tool to help you do even better next time. Ask some of your audience members what they liked and what they didn’t. Remember, you can learn a lot from your mistakes . 

1 3. Don't beat yourself up

You did the best you could, and that’s all anyone — including you — can ask for. 

Nervousness is perfectly normal, but sometimes our symptoms hold us back from doing — and enjoying — scarier tasks. Here are five tips for overcoming nerves:

1. Practice impression management

Impression management requires projecting an image that contradicts how you actually feel. It’s essentially a “fake it ‘til you make it” strategy.  Let’s say you’re about to make a corporate-wide presentation and feel worried you’ll forget important information. You’ll counteract this worry by imagining yourself remembering every detail and delivering it entertainingly.

Learn from this practice by noting the information chosen in your hypothetical and how you expressed it effectively. 

2. Talk to someone

Emotions are contagious. We absorb others’ positive vibes . Chatting with people who are excited about and confident in our presentation abilities rubs off on us. 

Before a presentation, call a cheerleader in your life — someone who’s on your side and understands your nerves. Be specific, discussing which parts of presenting are nerve-wracking and what you need from them.

3. Do breathing exercises

Mindful breathing is when you pay attention to the sensation of inhaling and exhaling while controlling and deepening breath length. Breathwork has several health benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety and improving memory, attention, and focus. 

Before the presentation, find a quiet and solitary space. Breathe deeply for at least a minute, focusing on sensation and depth. This practice brings you into your body and out of your mind (away from nerve-wracking thoughts).

4. Practice reframing 

Reframing is a technique used in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to improve negative automatic thought patterns over time. One such pattern is viewing certain emotions as bad, and others as good. Nervousness feels the same in the body as excitement. Instead of panicking even more when realizing you’re nervous, reframe your impression of nerves as excitement for what you’re about to do.

This excitement will propel you forward with confidence and pride for stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something scary.

Here are seven inspirational quotes to help you feel confident and excited when doing something you’re nervous about:

“You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart.” John Ford

“ When speaking in public, your message — no matter how important — will not be effective or memorable if you don't have a clear structure. ” Patricia Fripp

“The most precious things in speech are the pauses.”  Sir Ralph Richardson

“The way you overcome shyness is to become so wrapped up in something that you forget to be afraid.” Lady Bird Johnson

“It’s what you practice in private that you will be rewarded for in public.” Tony Robbins

“The worst speech you’ll ever give will be far better than the one you never give.” Fred Miller

Like any other skill, learning how to not be nervous for a presentation takes time and practice. Acknowledging this hurdle is the first step to making a change in the right direction.  Facing your fears will empower you to take on scarier — and more fulfilling — goals and enjoy the experience along the way. You don’t have to start with a TED Talk. Tackle small challenges like presenting an idea to your manager or practicing a short speech with a friend.  We won’t sugarcoat it — it’s hard to change our minds and habits. But if you’re willing to put in the effort, you’ll be rewarded with increased confidence and new experiences.

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Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

30 presentation feedback examples

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• PRESENTATION SKILLS

Coping with Presentation Nerves

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It is entirely natural to feel nervous before making a presentation.

Many seasoned teachers, lecturers and other presenters feel nervous beforehand despite having given hundreds of presentations. The same is true of actors and actresses, celebrities, politicians, preachers and other people working in the media or in the public eye.

Being nervous is not a problem or a weakness, you just need to channel your nervous energy wisely. On the other hand, being over-confident and not nervous could be a weakness!

The symptoms of nerves (or stage fright) can include "butterflies" or a queasy feeling in your stomach, sweaty palms, a dry throat and the panic that your mind has gone blank about your opening lines.

Fortunately, there are some tried and tested strategies and techniques to manage your nerves so that you can concentrate on delivering an effective and engaging presentation.

These techniques will not get rid of your nerves; instead they will help you to use your nervous energy to your advantage. When you are in a heightened state from the adrenaline that is being pumped around your body, you can use that energy to communicate enthusiastically, convincingly, and passionately. The key is to decrease your level of nervousness so you can focus your energy on these positive activities, not on trying to control your nerves.

Managing Presentation Nerves

Leading up to the presentation.

It is essential to always be well prepared and well-rehearsed in order to feel confident.

Do not fixate on the presentation delivery at the expense of good preparation. 

Spend time preparing, good preparation, knowing your subject well, and knowing what you are going to say and how you are going to say it, will boost your confidence and help reduce your nerves. 

Think of a presentation like an iceberg: what your audience sees - the delivery - is a small percentage of the whole.  What goes on out of sight, the planning and preparation, should make up the bulk of the work.

Read our Presentation Skills pages for tips and advice on how to best prepare for your presentation, starting with: What is a Presentation?

Practice your presentation; rehearse to family, friends or just in front of a mirror. Listen to any feedback. Check your timings, speak slowly and think about the types of questions that your audience may have.

If possible visit the presentation venue before the event to see the room layout and check what facilities are available. This will help ensure that everything runs smoothly on the day and help you visualise giving your presentation, which can help reduce feelings of nervousness.

Keep Your Mind and Body Healthy

Nervousness can be heightened if you're not feeling 100%.

Avoid alcohol the night before and on the day of your presentation. Reduce or avoid your caffeine intake from coffee, tea and other sources.

Try to engage in some exercise the day before your presentation. This will not only release endorphins, which make you feel better, but exercise will also make it more likely that you'll sleep well and feel more refreshed on the day of your presentation.

See our pages The Importance of Exercise and The Importance of Sleep for more information.

Eat healthy. If you're feeling nervous then you may not feel like eating. However eating something healthy, fruit and vegetables are always good choices, will make you feel better and give you the energy you need to get through presentation day.

Immediately before the presentation

When you feel nervous immediately before a presentation, the following strategies and exercises should help you:

Practice Deep Breathing

Adrenalin causes your breathing to shallow. By deliberately breathing deeply, your brain will get the oxygen it needs and the slower pace will trick your body into believing you are calmer. This also helps with voice quivers, which can occur when your breathing is shallow and irregular.

Drink Water

Adrenalin can cause a dry mouth, which in turn leads to getting tongue-tied. Have a glass or bottle of water handy and take sips before you start your presentation and occasionally during your presentation, especially when you wish to pause or emphasize a point. Take care not to take large gulps of water.

Chewing gum before a presentation may help you to feel more relaxed. Research has shown that the act of chewing can increase your alertness and help to reduce anxiety. It is usually best to get rid of the gum when you start your presentation.

Use Visualization Techniques

Imagine that you are delivering your presentation to an audience that is interested, enthused, smiling, and reacting positively. Cement this positive image in your mind and recall it just before you are ready to start.

Self-Massage

Press and massage your forehead to energize the front of the brain and speech centre.

Relaxation Exercises

Although you may not feel relaxed before you give your presentation relaxation, exercises can help.  Try the following relaxation exercises, but do not continue with them if they cause any pain or discomfort although remember that you may use some muscles you have not exercised for a while and so feel a little stiff afterwards.

Quick Relaxation Exercises

• Stand in an easy position with your feet one pace apart, knees 'unlocked' and not rigidly pushed back, spine straight, shoulders not tense, and head balanced.  Try to keep your face muscles relaxed by not clenching your jaw or clamping your teeth together.
• Now stretch SLOWLY upwards, aim to touch the ceiling but keep your feet flat on the floor.  Then flop forward from the waist bending your knees slightly as you go.  You are now hanging forward like a rag doll - your arms and head totally unsupported and relaxed.
• Straighten up SLOWLY, almost vertebra by vertebra, as if you were puppet and a giant puppet master was pulling you up by the strings keeping your head until last, when you are standing in your original easy position.

Repeat this exercise three times.

Alternatively you can relax in a chair:

• Sit comfortably with your lower spine pressed into the back of the chair.
• Raise your arms above your head and stretch as high as possible.
• Release your arms to your sides and bend forwards with your legs stretched out and stretch your arms out far as possible.
• Return to your starting position.

See our section: Relaxation Techniques for more information and ideas of how you can learn to relax effectively.

During the presentation

Many people find that once they are actually giving their presentation or speech they feel a lot better and more relaxed. But it's important to remember to:

Just before you start talking, pause, make eye contact, and smile. This last moment of peace is very relaxing and gives you time to adjust to being the centre of attention.

Smiling is a natural relaxant that sends positive chemical messages through your body. Smiling and maintaining eye contact also help you build rapport with your audience.

Speak more slowly than you would in a conversation, and leave longer pauses between sentences. This slower pace will calm you down, and it will also make you easier to hear, especially at the back of a large room.

Move Around

Move around a little during your presentation as this will expend some of your nervous energy. However, try not to pace backwards and forwards, or rock on your heels, as these activities can be distracting or irritating to your audience.

Stop Thinking About Yourself

Remember that the audience is there to get some information and that it is your job to put that information across to them. Try to put your nerves aside and think about communicating your message as effectively as possible.

After the event

It's important to focus on the positives of your presentation once you've finished. Experience is the single most effective way of overcoming presentation nerves and delivering better presentations in the future.

Get feedback

When possible, ask members of your audience for constructive feedback on your presentation. Listen to what they say and focus on areas that need improvement. Try to see any negative points not as a measure of failure but as learning opportunities for future presentations. Our page on Giving and Receiving Feedback may help here.

Use reflective practice

Reflective practice is a useful technique to help you think about and analyse your experiences and can be used for many aspects of life. The use of reflective practice for a presentation can be particularly useful for helping to minimise feelings of nervousness for future presentations. See our page of Reflective Practice for more help and information.

Don't beat yourself up

Like most things in life, presentations are unlikely to be perfect and there are always ways you can improve. When you get feedback from others and reflect on your own performance, it is important that you understand this and give yourself a break. Think about the positives and what went well, and learn from any mistakes or elements that you feel unhappy with.

Treat yourself

Treat yourself to something that you'll enjoy. Perhaps a glass of wine, or a nice cake or just a relaxing soak in the bath. Something to make you feel a bit special and recognise your achievement.

Continue to: Dealing with Presentation Questions Stress and Stress Management

See also: Preparing for a Presentation | Organising the Material The Newbie Blueprint for Virtual Presentation Success

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15 Ways to Calm Your Nerves Before a Big Presentation

Banish public speaking nerves and present with confidence..

I've been doing a lot of presenting recently, and I have no problem admitting that it's tough. For those not born with natural eloquence, public speaking can be remarkably nerve-racking.

We can't all deliver the next Gettysburg Address, but there are several small things you can do prior to your next big presentation that will help calm your nerves and set you up for optimal oration.

1. Practice. Naturally, you'll want to rehearse your presentation multiple times. While it can be difficult for those with packed schedules to spare time to practice, it's essential if you want to deliver a rousing presentation. If you really want to sound great, write out your speech rather than taking chances winging it.

Try to practice where you'll be delivering your talk. Some acting strategists suggest rehearsing lines in various positions-standing up, sitting down, with arms open wide, on one leg, while sitting on the toilet, etc. (OK, that last one may be optional.) The more you mix up your position and setting, the more comfortable you'll feel with your speech. Also try recording your presentation and playing it back to evaluate which areas need work. Listening to recordings of your past talks can clue you in to bad habits you may be unaware of, as well as inspiring the age-old question: "Is that what I really sound like?"

2. Transform Nervous Energy Into Enthusiasm. It may sound strange, but I'll often down an energy drink and blast hip-hop music in my earphones before presenting. Why? It pumps me up and helps me turn jitters into focused enthusiasm. Studies have shown that an enthusiastic speech can win out over an eloquent one, and since I'm not exactly the Winston Churchill of presenters, I make sure that I'm as enthusiastic and energetic as possible before going on stage. Of course, individuals respond differently to caffeine overload, so know your own body before guzzling those monster energy drinks.

3. Attend Other Speeches. If you're giving a talk as part of a larger series, try to attend some of the earlier talks by other presenters. This shows respect for your fellow presenters while also giving you a chance to feel out the audience. What's the mood of the crowd? Are folks in the mood to laugh or are they a bit more stiff? Are the presentations more strategic or tactical in nature? Another speaker may also say something that you can play off of later in your own presentation.

4. Arrive Early. It's always best to allow yourself plenty of time to settle in before your talk. Extra time ensures you won't be late (even if Google Maps shuts down) and gives you plenty of time to get adapted to your presentation space.

5. Adjust to Your Surroundings. The more adjusted to your environment you are, the more comfortable you'll feel. Make sure to spend some in the room where you will be delivering your presentation. If possible, practice with the microphone and lighting, make sure you understand the seating, and be aware of any distractions potentially posed by the venue (e.g., a noisy road outside).

6. Meet and Greet. Do your best to chat with people before your presentation . Talking with audiences makes you seem more likeable and approachable. Ask event attendees questions and take in their responses. They may even give you some inspiration to weave into your talk.

7. Use Positive Visualization. Whether or not you consider yourself a master of Zen, know that plenty of studies have proven the effectiveness of positive visualization . When we imagine a positive outcome to a scenario in our mind, it's more likely to play out the way we envision.

Instead of thinking "I'm going to be terrible out there" and visualizing yourself throwing up mid-presentation, imagine yourself getting tons of laughs while presenting with the enthusiasm of Jimmy Fallon and the poise of Audrey Hepburn (the charm of George Clooney wouldn't hurt either). Positive thoughts can be incredibly effective-give them a shot.

8. Take Deep Breaths. The go-to advice for jitters has truth to it. When we're nervous, our muscles tighten-you may even catch yourself holding your breath. Instead, go ahead and take those deep breaths to get oxygen to your brain and relax your body.

9. Smile. Smiling increases endorphins, replacing anxiety with calm and making you feel good about your presentation. Smiling also exhibits confidence and enthusiasm to the crowd. Just don't overdue it-no one enjoys the maniacal clown look.

10. Exercise . Exercise earlier in the day prior to your presentation to boost endorphins, which will help alleviate anxiety. Better pre-register for that Zumba class!

11. Work on Your Pauses. When you're nervous, it's easy to speed up your speech and end up talking too fast, which in turn causes you to run out of breath, get more nervous, and panic! Ahh!

Don't be afraid to slow down and use pauses in your speech. Pausing can be used to emphasize certain points and to help your talk feel more conversational. If you feel yourself losing control of your pacing, just take a nice pause and keep cool.

12. Use a Power Stance. Practicing confident body language is another way to boost your pre-presentation jitters. When your body is physically demonstrating confidence, your mind will follow suit. While you don't want to be jutting out your chest in an alpha gorilla pose all afternoon (somebody enjoyed Dawn of the Planet of the Apes a bit too much), studies have shown that using power stances a few minutes before giving a talk (or heading to a nerve-racking interview) creates a lasting sense of confidence and assurance. Whatever you do, don't sit-sitting is passive. Standing or walking a bit will help you harness those stomach bats (isn't that more appropriate than butterflies?). Before you go on stage, strike your best Power Ranger stance and hold your head high!

13. Drink Water. Dry mouth is a common result of anxiety. Prevent cottonmouth blues by staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water before your talk (just don't forget to hit the bathroom before starting). Keep a bottle of water at arm's reach while presenting in case you get dry mouth while chatting up a storm. It also provides a solid object to hurl at potential hecklers. (That'll show 'em.)

14. Join Toastmasters. Toastmaster clubs are groups across the country (and the world) dedicated to helping members improve their public speaking skills . Groups get together during lunch or after work to take turns delivering short talks on a chosen topic. The more you present, the better you'll be, so consider joining a Toastmaster club to become a top-notch orator. Just don't forget, it's BYOB (Bring Your Own Bread).

15. Don't Fight the Fear. Accept your fear rather than trying to fight it. Getting yourself worked up by wondering if people will notice your nervousness will only intensify your anxiety. Remember, those jitters aren't all bad-harness that nervous energy and transform it into positive enthusiasm and you'll be golden. We salute you, O Captain! My Captain!

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21 MINDFUL tools for managing presentation nerves

Aug 18, 2017 by moocow in anxiety , mindfulness , presentation skills , presentation tips , public speaking.

Do you struggle with presentation nerves?

Public speaking nerves is a significant challenge for many professionals; it’s a common phobia.

In fact, the fear of public speaking is an anxiety disorder we help people with every day.

If you’d like to overcome your fear when you speak in front of a group, prepare for a speech or presentation, it’s worth knowing how to manage the fight or flight response which can affect any public speaker.

“There are two types of speakers: those that are nervous and those that are liars.” – Mark Twain

There are many reasons people feel anxious at the thought of presenting. When it comes to nervous public speaking, the list is a long one.

Here are a few of the common reasons many of our clients share for their presentation nerves:

– The fear of failure

– Worry about being judged

– Perfectionism

– Feeling anxious in front of large groups

– Impostor syndrome

– Past failures

It continues

– No experience or training

– Don’t know how to prepare

– Poor breathing habits

– A higher status audience

– An emotionally charged or hostile audience

– Fear of not knowing the answer to every question

– Worry about forgetting their content

Whatever the reason is for your presentation nerves these tools will help

   The Issue  |  The Tool  |  What to do

 “Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Words have incredible power. they can make people’s hearts soar, or they can make people’s hearts sore.” – Dr. Mardy Grothe

“The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.” – Mark Twain

“90% Of how well the talk will go is determined before the speaker steps on the platform.” –  Somers white

“There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. the one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.” – Dale Carnegie

If you need help managing your presentation nerves:

– Book yourself onto a powerful  public speaking course .

– Invest in some really good one to one  public speaking coaching .

– Get yourself some excellent  presentation training

Image courtesy of: Shutterstock.com

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Presentation nerves – 7 tips to control them

Does the thought of speaking in front of an audience fill you with utter dread and wrack you with presentation nerves? 

Do you experience physical and emotional symptoms such as anxiety, feelings of panic, sweaty palms and palpitations? Does your mind go completely blank? 

How to overcome your presentation nerves

Your experience may not be so extreme but it’s very natural to feel nervous before you step out on stage and face an audience. If you suffer with presentation nerves our checklist of how to control these very common feelings might be of help.

Know your material

Structure your presentation, practice, practice, then practice some more, engage your audience, walk tall and move slowly, pause, breathe, smile and make eye contact, be authentic.

Overall accept that being a little nervous is a good thing, it helps you stay focused on the day. But understand that there are lots of things you can do to manage your presentation nerves and become a more authentic, confident presenter.

Speak with Confidence to any Size Audience

Would you like some help with speaking with more confidence in any presentation? If so our module ‘Speak with Confidence to Any Size Audience’ could really help.

This module provides a range of expert vocal techniques that will strengthen your vocal power and deliver any spoken message with impact every time you present. Discover specialist skills to speak clearly and engage every corner of the room, making every presentation meaningful and memorable, increasing your powers of persuasion and allowing you to instantly bring a meeting or pitch to life

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Managing Presentation Nerves

How to calm your stage fright.

Your stomach is queasy, your palms are sweaty, and your mind has gone blank about your opening lines. What will you be like when you've been introduced and the room goes quiet?

Are you doomed to presentation panic or paralysis, or can you overcome that debilitating nervousness and deliver a speech that wows the audience? (Or at least leaves them feeling satisfied?)

If you're like most people, then public speaking or presenting is one of your major fears (it's known as "glossophobia"). Yet these skills are often called upon. It might not be to an audience of hundreds, but giving presentations to staff or even team members is a common enough occurrence. You owe it to yourself to develop some strategies and techniques to manage your nerves so that you can concentrate on delivering an effective and engaging presentation.

A positive mindset is vital to delivering a good presentation.

How Nervous Do You Feel Before a Speech?

Notice that we didn't say to get rid of your nervousness. This is because presenting is not a natural activity, and even the most practiced presenters get a bit nervous. The point is this: your nervous energy can be used to your advantage.

When you're in a heightened state from the adrenaline that's being pumped into your body, you can use that energy to communicate enthusiastically, convincingly and passionately. The key is to decrease your level of nervousness so that you can use your energy on these positive activities, not on trying to control your nerves.

So, to harness your nervousness and bring it under control, there are six key tips to remember. These tips are all designed to help you focus on your audience and their needs rather than on yourself and how you are feeling. They all stem from one truism:

The more uncertain you are, the more nervous you will be.

The more you can control the uncertainty, the less nervousness you'll experience, and the more residual energy you'll have to devote to the presentation itself.

Six Steps to Conquering Your Presentation Nerves

1. know your audience.

Consult your audience before your presentation. The more confident you are that you're presenting them with useful and interesting material, the less nervous you'll be overall. You really don't want your presentation to be a surprise. If it is, you lose complete control over the audience's reaction, and that's a large factor in nervousness. So:

• Define your target audience.
• Ask people who are representative of the audience what they expect from the presentation.
• Run your agenda by a few people to see if they think something is missing or is overkill.
• Consider contacting participants by email beforehand and asking them a few questions about what they expect.
• Greet audience members at the door and do a quick survey of why they're there and what they expect.

2. Know Your Material

Nothing is worse for nerves than trying to give a presentation on a topic that you're not well prepared for. This doesn't mean you have to be an expert beforehand, but you'd better know it backward on presentation day. And making sure that you've understood your audience and their needs properly will help you to ensure that your material is on target to meet their needs.

Another important point to remember is that you can't possibly cover everything you know in your presentation. That would likely be long and boring. So select the most pertinent points, and supplement them with other material if time allows.

To make your material interesting and memorable, include occasional questions to encourage audience participation. This enhances the learning experience and gives you a break from presenting. It also allows you to deliver your information in a more conversational manner which is often more believable.

3. Structure Your Presentation

A common technique for trying to calm nervousness is memorizing what you intend to say. But all this does is make your delivery sound like it's coming from a robot. If you miss a word or draw a blank, your whole presentation is thrown off, and then your nervousness compounds itself with every remaining second. It's far better to structure your presentation so that you give yourself clues to what's coming next.

Here are some tips for doing that:

• Have a set of key phrases listed on a cue card.
• Refer to these phrases to trigger your mind as to what's coming up next.
• If you're using slides, use these key phrases in your transitions.

This approach helps you to control your own uncertainty about whether you'll remember your presentation – both what you want to say and the order in which you want to say it.

A simple, widely used and highly effective structure is to tell the audience what you're going to say, then say it, and then recap what you've said. Our article on How to Structure a Presentation   covers this in detail.

4. Practice, Practice, Practice

Although you should avoid memorizing your presentation, you do want to be very comfortable with your delivery. Familiarity brings confidence, and practice helps you to deliver the words naturally. This means that they will be coming more from your heart and mind, rather than from a piece of paper.

Here's what to do when you're rehearsing:

• Learn the organization and order of your presentation.
• If you do feel the need to memorize, limit it to your opening. This will help you get off to a smooth start.
• Try filming yourself. You'll discover what you look and sound like to others, and then you can make a plan to change the things that need changing.
• Prepare for large speaking events by practicing with a smaller audience first; for example, by inviting colleagues to listen to a "dry run" during their lunch hour.

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5. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

Once you know what you're going to say, you need to prepare yourself for the actual delivery.

• Decide what you're going to wear – make it comfortable and appropriate.
• Arrive early and get your equipment set up.
• Anticipate problems and have backups and contingencies in place in case something doesn't work, you forget something, etc.
• If possible, give everything one last run-through in the real environment.
• Prepare responses to anticipated questions. Try to think like that one person in the front row who always tries to trip the presenter up.

6. Calm Yourself From the Inside

Nervousness causes physiological reactions which are mostly attributed to the increase in adrenaline in your system. You can counteract these effects with a few simple techniques:

• Practice deep breathing. Adrenaline causes you to breathe shallowly. By breathing deeply your brain will get the oxygen it needs, and the slower pace will trick your body into believing that you're calmer. It also helps with voice quivers, which can occur when your breathing is irregular.
• Drink water. Adrenaline can cause a dry mouth, which in turn leads to getting tongue-tied. Have a glass of water handy. Take sips occasionally, especially when you want to emphasize a point.
• Smile. This is a natural relaxant that sends positive chemicals through your body.
• Use visualization techniques   . Imagine that you're delivering your presentation to an audience that's interested, enthused, smiling, and reacting positively. Cement this positive image in your mind, and recall it right before you're ready to go on.
• Press and massage your forehead to energize the front of the brain and speech center.
• Just before you start talking, pause, make eye contact, and smile. This last moment of peace is very relaxing and gives you time to adjust to being the center of attention.
• Speak more slowly than you would in a conversation , and leave longer pauses between sentences. This slower pace will calm you down, and it will also make you easier to hear, especially at the back of a large room.
• Move around during your presentation. This will expend some of your nervous energy.
• Stop thinking about yourself . Remember that the audience is there to get some information – and it's your job to put it across to them.

To take this to the next level, listen to our " Performing Under Pressure   " Expert Interview with Dr Don Greene. This gives you many more tips and techniques for managing performance stress.

When it comes to presenting, nerves are inevitable. Letting them get the better of you is not. You need to develop a strategy for taking the focus off your nervousness and putting that energy to positive use.

By controlling as much of the uncertainty as you can, you'll increase your confidence in your ability to deliver an excellent presentation. This confidence then counteracts your nerves, and you create a positive cycle for yourself.

For your next presentation, be knowledgeable, be well-practiced and prepared, and try out some physical relaxation techniques. Amaze yourself and impress your audience with your calm and cool delivery of a great presentation.

This site teaches you the skills you need for a happy and successful career; and this is just one of many tools and resources that you'll find here at Mind Tools. Subscribe to our free newsletter , or join the Mind Tools Club and really supercharge your career!

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Comments (22)

• Over a month ago Michele wrote Hi Mauriced, Thank you for the feedback on the article and for sharing yours with us. I enjoyed reading it. I especially like the point you make about challenging the status quo and resisting the feeling of being forced to do a presentation, when you don't have anything compelling or relevant to say. Michele Mind Tools Team
• Over a month ago Mauriced wrote A very useful and helpful article on such an extremely important topic. Here is another perspective you may be interested in. https://mindfulpresenter.com/mindful-blog/presentation-anxiety-content/
• Over a month ago Michele wrote Hello anushka, Toastmasters is an excellent way to develop and practice your presentation skills. Thank you for your feedback on the article. You will be able to apply what you have learned here when you join Toastmasters. Michele Mind Tools Team

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Managing Presentation Nerves

I have been speaking in front of groups for over 20 years! I have seen the cold steely eyes of an audience put to sleep by a series of dull PowerPoint presentations. Now here’s my dirty little secret: I STILL get nervous!

Written by Henry Caplan • 6 March 2013

I recently had to present a slide deck of new material (not my own) for a major financial institution with very little preparation and limited understanding.  It was great!  No, I’m not being sarcastic.  It was a reminder of the challenges business presenters are faced with every day.  And the truth is – I actually thrive on the nerves!  I’ve made friends with my nerves, never denying they’re around.  I have learned to  harness  the nerves I feel into  energy  that I am able to put  into  the presentation.  I have a set of tools that help me when I get nervous that I can share with you.

Awareness :

I know I never look or sound as nervous as I feel.  And here’s a gift – you don’t either!  No matter what is going on inside, a presentation always feels worse then it appears.  Don’t believe me?  I have worked with thousands of presenters all over the world doing detailed analysis video playbacks and the one constant is everyone looks better then they think.  Try it yourself.  Of course there are things to work on but just know that no one knows what’s going on in your head but you. This is something I emphasize in my pitching skills workshop .

When I’m nervous, my breathing gets shallow and I deprive my brain of much needed oxygen so I make a conscious choice to breathe right before I begin.  I take two or three deep breaths so I can feel my feet on the ground and steady myself.  As I breathe, I take my time.  I look for a friendly face I can connect to for my opening sentence.  So I’m like a pitcher focusing one thought on an individual, like one pitch to a catcher.  I think of my presentations as an opportunity to speak to individuals within the group rather then addressing a whole group at once and not making any deep connection with anyone.  When I connect, I relax.  I get my attention off myself and onto my audience.

Visualize :

I say positive things to myself.  I imagine the speech going very well.  Sometimes right before I begin, I think of something I am proud of or the last time I presented well.  This gives me confidence that this too will go well.

Body Language: 

I find a private space like a bathroom and stand with my hands up in victory for 30 seconds.  A great deal of scientific research has been done on the effects of body language on your state of mind.  Traditionally, body language has been a tool to manage how we would like to be  perceived  but I would encourage presenters to find a power position as part of their preparation to address how they  feel .  Amy Cuddy, a body language expert has done some interesting research on this subject and I encourage you to check out her TED Talk.

Troubleshooting :

Always test the equipment.  Microphones feed back sound.  Some are very sensitive to sound while others are faint.  Most microphones these days are multi directional, others you have to lean into to be heard – so double check sound before anyone arrives.  Test the sound with the audio visual person if possible.  If you’re showing a PowerPoint on a computer, have a flash drive back up just in case.  In fact, you should have a plan B for every aspect of your presentation.  And believe me, it’s the little things that kill you.  Electrical extension cords, proper electrical converter appropriate to the country that you’re in, insufficient lighting at the podium to read your notes, etc… the more prepared, the less nervous you will be.  Doing whatever you can to eliminate the unknown, will help you manage nerves.

The key to practising a presentation is doing it out loud.  The physical act of speaking is different from the process of thinking it through and the unknown sensation of saying the words, phrasing the thoughts, thinking on our feet, hearing your voice can be anxiety provoking.  Practice out loud at least 3 times.  Preferably with a partner.  If you can’t practice the whole presentation out loud, at least do the opening few minutes.  It’s when you’re most likely to be nervous and self conscious.  If you start on solid footing, it will most likely carry you through the rough patches.

The day of a presentation, do something physical to get your blood flowing, your heart pounding, and out of a head that’s filled with anxious thoughts of failure.  Exercise helps us stay present.

Commit to your gestures and your movement and do them fully.  It will help you channel your nerves into energy.  There is a difference between movement that reveals anxiety and movement that is strong and affective. Movement with commitment and purpose will allow you to connect with your body and be more authoritative.  And will calm you.  As long as you move with purpose.  To be clear, habitual shuffling of feet or clasping hands is NOT what I mean by effective movement.  I’m also not a fan of having a pen or a laser pointer as they can limit our gestures and our expressiveness.  (I know this is controversial, but I have seen my fair share of presenters distract an audience by clutching a pen or laser pointing every detail on a slide to drive us to distraction.)

Feel free to have some handy in case you experience dry mouth.  Remember your allowed to be a human being up there and water helps us pause, and get back into a more calm and confident head space.

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How to Calm Your Nerves Before a Presentation

Last Updated: October 11, 2022 References

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure . Eric McClure is an editing fellow at wikiHow where he has been editing, researching, and creating content since 2019. A former educator and poet, his work has appeared in Carcinogenic Poetry, Shot Glass Journal, Prairie Margins, and The Rusty Nail. His digital chapbook, The Internet, was also published in TL;DR Magazine. He was the winner of the Paul Carroll award for outstanding achievement in creative writing in 2014, and he was a featured reader at the Poetry Foundation’s Open Door Reading Series in 2015. Eric holds a BA in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an MEd in secondary education from DePaul University. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 1,610 times.

Whether it’s a wedding speech, work presentation, or school project, presentations can be a lot of fun if you adopt a positive attitude. Even if you do find your nerves acting up, there are plenty of simple measures that you can take to prevent your fears from getting the best of you. Adequately preparing your body and mind will ensure that you’re feeling great on the big day. There are also several simple exercises that you can use to trick your body into calming down before the presentation. If all else fails, there are plenty of ways to distract yourself!

Using Simple Tricks to Maintain a Positive Attitude

Tip: Performing this breathing exercise at least once a day is a good way to combat general performance anxiety.

• Visualization can turn negative feelings and thoughts into positive ones. Nervousness can become enthusiasm if you relax and refocus your energy.

• If you aren’t going to be alone before your presentation, go the bathroom and strike poses in the mirror.
• Smile. Even if you aren’t happy, you’ll trick your brain into thinking you are. There’s some truth in the adage that you should fake it until you make it!

• If you’re presenting a speech where humor is appropriate, consider starting with a joke to alleviate tension in the room.

Distracting Yourself to Calm Your Nerves

• Even if you aren’t a fan of it, uplifting classical music is an excellent way to subconsciously relax yourself. Mozart’s “Sonata No. 17 in C” and Prokofiev's “Classical” Symphony are excellent choices.

Tip: While up-tempo hip hop and heavy metal may be good at hyping you up for a basketball game or tough conversation, it’s not going to do a good job of calming your nerves.

• If you’re drawing faces, put a smile on them for a double-dose of positivity before you get up to speak. It won’t hurt to imagine a smiling face staring up at you from the audience!

• Fidget cubes and Rubik’s puzzles are other solid options for keeping your mind free from stress.

Preparing for Your Presentation

• Drinking too much coffee in the morning can make you jittery. Try to keep it to just one cup if you can.
• Don’t overeat. Too much food in the morning may make you feel sluggish or slow in the hours leading up to your presentation.

• Memorizing the first 3-4 sentences of your presentation is an easy way to make sure that you don’t get jammed up early on. It will also boost your confidence as you run through the rest of your presentation.
• If you can, record yourself speaking and play it back to see if there’s anything that you need to fix or work on.
• To simulate a real audience, ask a friend, roommate, or family member to sit through a practice session. They may be able to give you some advice as well!

• Don’t overdo it. If you strain your body, you could end up in pain. Nobody wants to present when they’re sore! A simple 15-20 minutes is more than enough to ensure that you’re feeling loose and ready.

• Showing up early will also give you plenty of time to set up a PowerPoint or any other technology that you need to use.
• Arriving early can give you an opportunity to practice one more time right before your presentation.

Tip: Rushing to show up on time is another cause of concern for a lot of people. Showing up early will remove this fear by giving you plenty of time to get where you’re going.

Expert Q&A

You might also like.

• ↑ https://thebuddhistcentre.com/text/mindfulness-breathing
• ↑ https://www.inc.com/larry-kim/15-power-up-tips-to-make-you-a-better-presenter.html
• ↑ https://hbr.org/2016/10/how-to-calm-your-nerves-before-a-big-presentation
• ↑ https://www.swamh.com/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=9762&cn=5
• ↑ https://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/neuroscience-says-listening-to-this-one-song-reduces-anxiety-by-up-to-65-percent.html
• ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/society/christmas-charity-appeal-2014-blog/2014/dec/01/-sp-drawing-depression-the-doodle-chronicles
• ↑ https://www.health.com/adult-adhd/fidget-spinners-anxiety-adhd-autism
• ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesleadershipforum/2013/06/19/the-only-way-to-prepare-to-give-a-presentation/#6ff8dc20b84e
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-antidepressant-diet/201709/distracting-yourself-better-mood
• ↑ https://www.inc.com/rhett-power/3-public-speaking-tips-youve-probably-never-thought-about.html

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Presentation Training Institute

A division of bold new directions training, how to calm your nerves before a big presentation.

It’s not easy to get in front of an audience to give a big presentation. The stakes can feel high and your desire to succeed can cause the anticipation to turn quickly into anxiety. It’s normal for people in this position to feel nervous and afraid. In fact, even seasoned speakers and professionals tend to feel nervous despite having given hundreds of presentations. While it’s completely normal to feel nervous before a presentation, it can also impact your ability to deliver a successful presentation. Fortunately, there are some tried and tested techniques to manage your nervousness so you can deliver an effective presentation. 

Naturally, the more you practice your presentation, the more comfortable you will feel about delivering it. Try rehearsing your presentation in front of a mirror, so you can pay attention to your body language and eye contact. It’s also a good idea to practice in front of family or friends so you can get a feel for having an audience. Another good idea is to record yourself giving your presentation so you can play it back and evaluate which aspects of your presentation need more work. 

Know Your Venue

You can eliminate some of your nervousness by familiarizing yourself with your speaking venue. Visit the venue ahead of time and get to know the space. Get comfortable with the stage and what it feels like standing in front of the seats. Check out the lighting and adjust it to meet your needs. Finally, test out the audio/visual equipment so you feel comfortable operating it on your presentation day. 

Arrive Early to Meet Your Audience

It can be very intimidating to walk into a room full of strangers so arrive early and arrange for an informal meet and greet with your audience. Chatting with them beforehand will make you appear more approachable, and it will also reduce some of your anxiety about speaking in front of people you don’t know. It’s also a great way to learn a little more about your audience in case you want to work some of that information into your presentation. 

Know Your Intro Really Well

The most difficult part of a presentation is getting started. For most people, once they get going, they find themselves calming down and sailing right along. Therefore, come up with an engaging opener and memorize it until you know it like the back of your hand. This will help you get started and find your groove. Once you get over the initial hump, the rest will follow naturally. 

Visualize Success

When most people get nervous, they begin thinking about messing up or making a mistake. This is a natural response to fear. However, you can calm your nerves with the power of positivity. Instead of worrying about stumbling over your words, visualize yourself doing a great job and engaging your audience. Imagine your audience complimenting you on a great presentation and feeling the joy of success. Positive thinking can have a huge impact on your performance and it can help give you the confidence needed to give a great presentation. 

Get Some Exercise

Do some sort of exercise the morning of your presentation. Go for a walk, a bike ride, do a yoga class, or hit the gym. Any exercise is fine, as long as you get your heart rate up for at least 20-30 minutes. Exercise will help to get your blood pumping and your endorphins flowing, which in turn can help relax your nerves and boost your memory. Combine exercise with mindful breathing for optimum results. 

Deep Breathing

Oxygen is essential for optimum brain function and it also helps to relax your muscles which can tense up when you get nervous. Increase oxygen flow to your body by doing some deep breathing exercises before your presentation. Slow, deep breaths will allow oxygen to flow throughout your body while also focusing your attention on breathing rather than your nerves. This is one of the best ways to combat nerves and anxiety.

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10 Ways to Calm Your Nerves Before and During a Presentation

Calm your presentation nerves with these easy practical tips!

How to Calm Your Presentation Nerves

Public speaking can fill many with a sense of dread. As you stand behind the lectern, facing the silent room and expectant stares, nerves may flare up. Your hands tremble slightly – a familiar sensation as presentation anxiety surfaces.

It’s a common situation for countless professionals. Whether at a team meeting or conference, the presentation nerves and anxiety before and during speaking can feel overwhelming and paralysing.

This article aims to help presenters get a grip on their presentation anxiety and power through their nerves to speak calmly and with poise. Anxiety is common among even seasoned speakers when presenting. However, the practical tips here can help manage the fluttering butterflies and approach any audience with confidence.

From planning your presentation to delivery methods for overcoming nerves, these strategies are designed to be easily applied. Learn how to calm your presentation nerves and convey your speech with conviction. The goal is to move past the anxiety and embrace public speaking assuredly and eloquently.

Understand Your Fear

Public speaking commonly triggers fears that fuel presentation anxiety – the fear of judgement, making mistakes, or not meeting expectations. These fears manifest physically too – racing heart, sweats, trembling voice.

Recognising these fears is key to overcoming presentation anxiety . It’s understanding that they are a natural response to the perceived high-stakes situation of presenting.

The fear of judgment may stem from wanting to impress. And the fear of mistakes could link to a lack of confidence in some areas. Acknowledging the roots of these fears is the first step in managing them. This is not just combating nerves, but accepting the nerves as part of the experience. With this mentality, you can learn to navigate through these fears gracefully and effectively.

Deep Breathing Exercises

Knowing how to calm nerves before a presentation is key. One of the most effective ways is through deep breathing exercises – simple yet powerful tools for centring thoughts and relaxing the body.

When anxious, breathing becomes rapid and shallow, amplifying nervousness physically. Deep breathing counters this, slowing the heart rate and loosening muscles.

To practise before a presentation, find a quiet space. Breathe deeply through the nose, letting the abdomen expand fully. Hold the breath briefly, then exhale slowly through the mouth. Repeat this cycle several times. This oxygenates the brain and muscles, sharpening focus and reducing tension.

Positive Self-Talk and Visualisation

Nervousness before a presentation is very normal. However excessive anxiety and diminished confidence can certainly impede your ability to perform well. How do you get out of this mindset? The power of your own self-talk should not be discounted.

Begin by noting which negative thoughts usually take hold when you’re preparing to present. Dismiss them, and substitute more constructive phrases  like: “I have prepared effectively, I’m up for this challenge.”

Mentally envisioning a successful talk is also extremely useful. Picture yourself free of presentation nerves, calmly and smoothly, responding to the audience, driving your points home effectively. Let this imagined confidence suppress any impulse towards self-doubt or worry. Essentially, you are rehearsing internally, and priming yourself for a positive external performance.

A bit of easygoing self-fortification goes a long way. Positive thinking begets positive results.

Thorough Preparation and Practice

Learning how to not be nervous before a presentation requires thorough preparation. Comprehensively understanding your material substantially reduces anxiety. Break down the presentation into logical sections, grasp the essence of each part, and their contribution to the whole.

Efficient practice involves simulating the actual event. If possible, rehearse in a similar environment using the same equipment. Sync your remarks seamlessly with visual aids.

Record rehearsals and review for improvement areas – tone, pace, clarity. A small friendly audience provides helpful feedback and gets you comfortable with the dynamics of presenting.

Mastering the power of the pause boosts everyday communication skills as well. Silent moments can underscore important points and enhance articulacy. Pausing permits you to regather thoughts, make eye contact, and gauge reactions.

Immersive training engenders confidence for poised presentations where messages resonate.

Familiarise Yourself with the Presentation Space

Visiting the presentation venue ahead of time, if possible, can significantly lower discomfort. Even a brief walk-through will provide a useful understanding of room layout, acoustics, and lighting equipment.

If unable to access the site, look for available photos and videos to understand the dynamics. Mentally envision where you’ll stand, how the audience will be arranged, and how you’ll move around. Think through the use of tools – mic, podium height, slide advances.

Grasping key aspects of the setting allows you to concentrate more on your talk and audience rapport . Surprises and glitches get minimised when you’ve scoped out the terrain beforehand. It’s a simple way to bolster readiness.

It also focuses your attention on something other than yourself thus inducing calm and reducing presentation nerves.

Physical Techniques: Power Stances and Smile

Body lan guage impacts mental state, so use this to help manage presentation nerves. Standing tall with shoulders back and hands at your sides projects confidence. Feet slightly apart, grounded stance. Gesture fluidly when needed.

This posture signals authority to audiences while boosting your own self-assurance. It triggers a psychological uptick in composure.

Flashing an occasional smile makes you more relatable and approachable. It’s a natural stress buster too – grins release endorphins, lowering anxiety. Transition shaky smiles into assured, vibrant expressions as you progress.

Well-timed gestures clarify messages and underscore points. Demonstrate ease with audiences through purposeful physicality.

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is key for voice clarity and mental sharpness when presenting. A parched mouth or throat can distract and impede comfortable speaking. Drink adequate water in the hours beforehand. But go easy right before starting – you want to minimise mid-talk breaks.

Having water handy on stage helps too. Take small sips periodically – especially preceding long talk segments or after lively interactions. This lubricates vocal cords and provides short breaks to gather thoughts, re-energise.

The key is avoiding dizzy spells, sudden fatigue, or tongue-tied moments. Hydration fuels presentation stamina and resonance . It’s a simple but potent medicine for performance. Plan intake wisely and keep replenishing through the event.

Channel Nervous Energy

Nervous energy, with skillful direction, converts into enthusiastic, dynamic presentations. View the adrenaline rush as fuel injecting vigour into your talk . Rather than an obstacle, let anxiety become a wingman.

Harvest that force to amplify vocal emphasis, broaden gestures, and intensify passion points. The key is not suppression, but guidance – convert tremors into resonance.

Prep work is essential for success here. Brief mindfulness sessions before entering the stage can help regulate adrenaline surges. Quick physical exercise also pays dividends.

The goal is to channel initial angst into a compelling presence. Harness the power of tension to transform flat delivery into engaging interaction that resonates.

Interact with the Audience

Engaging your audience eases presentation nerves and creates calm by building an interactive, congenial atmosphere. Establish eye contact , sweeping visually across the room. This forges rapport, lending conversational flow. Ask questions that invite opinions, and spark discussions.

Stay attuned to nonverbal feedback as you present. Gauge interest levels through facial cues and body language. Adjust pace and tone accordingly – double down when they’re engaged, and add clarifying details if confused. Follow their lead.

Maintaining eye contact throughout transforms monologue into conversation. It emboldens both the speaker and listener. Discourage side chatter by keeping listeners engaged upfront. Bring questions into the talk through warm, roving eye contact that says, “I want to hear from you.”

Embrace the Experience

View each presentation as a journey and a valuable learning experience. Overcoming presentation nerves is not just about delivering a successful speech; it’s also a significant part of your personal and professional growth. Each time you step in front of an audience, you build not just your presentation skills but also your resilience and ability to handle challenging situations.

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Remember that perfection is not the goal; growth is. With each presentation, you gain insights into what works best for you and where you can improve. 

How do I stop being nervous during a presentation?

To reduce nervousness during a presentation, focus on thorough preparation and practice. Utilise deep breathing techniques and positive self-talk to calm your mind. 

Why do I get so much anxiety from presenting?

Presentation anxiety often stems from a fear of judgement, making mistakes, or not meeting expectations. It’s a natural response to being in a situation where you feel observed and evaluated.

What are the symptoms of speech anxiety?

Common symptoms of speech anxiety include a racing heart, sweating, trembling hands or voice, dry mouth, and sometimes nausea or stomach discomfort. Mentally, it can manifest as blanking out, negative thoughts, or extreme fear of making mistakes.

Further Reading:

Here is some further information, if you are looking to excel in future presentations:

• 5-day Intensive Presentation with Impact Course – This course will provide you with hands-on training, provided by experts in the field. 
• Assertiveness Course – A course designed to help you increase your confidence and master the art of conflict resolution. Also available as a one-to-one 2-hour Zoom call, so you can have more in-depth, personalised training.
• Benefits of Presentation Training Courses – Unsure if training courses are for you? Explore the many benefits and take the plunge today!

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MoSCoW Prioritization

What is moscow prioritization.

MoSCoW prioritization, also known as the MoSCoW method or MoSCoW analysis, is a popular prioritization technique for managing requirements. 

  The acronym MoSCoW represents four categories of initiatives: must-have, should-have, could-have, and won’t-have, or will not have right now. Some companies also use the “W” in MoSCoW to mean “wish.”

What is the History of the MoSCoW Method?

Software development expert Dai Clegg created the MoSCoW method while working at Oracle. He designed the framework to help his team prioritize tasks during development work on product releases.

You can find a detailed account of using MoSCoW prioritization in the Dynamic System Development Method (DSDM) handbook . But because MoSCoW can prioritize tasks within any time-boxed project, teams have adapted the method for a broad range of uses.

How Does MoSCoW Prioritization Work?

Before running a MoSCoW analysis, a few things need to happen. First, key stakeholders and the product team need to get aligned on objectives and prioritization factors. Then, all participants must agree on which initiatives to prioritize.

At this point, your team should also discuss how they will settle any disagreements in prioritization. If you can establish how to resolve disputes before they come up, you can help prevent those disagreements from holding up progress.

Finally, you’ll also want to reach a consensus on what percentage of resources you’d like to allocate to each category.

With the groundwork complete, you may begin determining which category is most appropriate for each initiative. But, first, let’s further break down each category in the MoSCoW method.

Start prioritizing your roadmap

Moscow prioritization categories.

1. Must-have initiatives

As the name suggests, this category consists of initiatives that are “musts” for your team. They represent non-negotiable needs for the project, product, or release in question. For example, if you’re releasing a healthcare application, a must-have initiative may be security functionalities that help maintain compliance.

The “must-have” category requires the team to complete a mandatory task. If you’re unsure about whether something belongs in this category, ask yourself the following.

If the product won’t work without an initiative, or the release becomes useless without it, the initiative is most likely a “must-have.”

2. Should-have initiatives

Should-have initiatives are just a step below must-haves. They are essential to the product, project, or release, but they are not vital. If left out, the product or project still functions. However, the initiatives may add significant value.

“Should-have” initiatives are different from “must-have” initiatives in that they can get scheduled for a future release without impacting the current one. For example, performance improvements, minor bug fixes, or new functionality may be “should-have” initiatives. Without them, the product still works.

3. Could-have initiatives

Another way of describing “could-have” initiatives is nice-to-haves. “Could-have” initiatives are not necessary to the core function of the product. However, compared with “should-have” initiatives, they have a much smaller impact on the outcome if left out.

So, initiatives placed in the “could-have” category are often the first to be deprioritized if a project in the “should-have” or “must-have” category ends up larger than expected.

4. Will not have (this time)

One benefit of the MoSCoW method is that it places several initiatives in the “will-not-have” category. The category can manage expectations about what the team will not include in a specific release (or another timeframe you’re prioritizing).

Placing initiatives in the “will-not-have” category is one way to help prevent scope creep . If initiatives are in this category, the team knows they are not a priority for this specific time frame. 

Some initiatives in the “will-not-have” group will be prioritized in the future, while others are not likely to happen. Some teams decide to differentiate between those by creating a subcategory within this group.

How Can Development Teams Use MoSCoW?

  Although Dai Clegg developed the approach to help prioritize tasks around his team’s limited time, the MoSCoW method also works when a development team faces limitations other than time. For example: 

Prioritize based on budgetary constraints.

What if a development team’s limiting factor is not a deadline but a tight budget imposed by the company? Working with the product managers, the team can use MoSCoW first to decide on the initiatives that represent must-haves and the should-haves. Then, using the development department’s budget as the guide, the team can figure out which items they can complete. 

Prioritize based on the team’s skillsets.

A cross-functional product team might also find itself constrained by the experience and expertise of its developers. If the product roadmap calls for functionality the team does not have the skills to build, this limiting factor will play into scoring those items in their MoSCoW analysis.

Prioritize based on competing needs at the company.

Cross-functional teams can also find themselves constrained by other company priorities. The team wants to make progress on a new product release, but the executive staff has created tight deadlines for further releases in the same timeframe. In this case, the team can use MoSCoW to determine which aspects of their desired release represent must-haves and temporarily backlog everything else.

What Are the Drawbacks of MoSCoW Prioritization?

  Although many product and development teams have prioritized MoSCoW, the approach has potential pitfalls. Here are a few examples.

1. An inconsistent scoring process can lead to tasks placed in the wrong categories.

  One common criticism against MoSCoW is that it does not include an objective methodology for ranking initiatives against each other. Your team will need to bring this methodology to your analysis. The MoSCoW approach works only to ensure that your team applies a consistent scoring system for all initiatives.

Pro tip: One proven method is weighted scoring, where your team measures each initiative on your backlog against a standard set of cost and benefit criteria. You can use the weighted scoring approach in ProductPlan’s roadmap app .

2. Not including all relevant stakeholders can lead to items placed in the wrong categories.

To know which of your team’s initiatives represent must-haves for your product and which are merely should-haves, you will need as much context as possible.

For example, you might need someone from your sales team to let you know how important (or unimportant) prospective buyers view a proposed new feature.

One pitfall of the MoSCoW method is that you could make poor decisions about where to slot each initiative unless your team receives input from all relevant stakeholders. 

3. Team bias for (or against) initiatives can undermine MoSCoW’s effectiveness.

Because MoSCoW does not include an objective scoring method, your team members can fall victim to their own opinions about certain initiatives. 

One risk of using MoSCoW prioritization is that a team can mistakenly think MoSCoW itself represents an objective way of measuring the items on their list. They discuss an initiative, agree that it is a “should have,” and move on to the next.

But your team will also need an objective and consistent framework for ranking all initiatives. That is the only way to minimize your team’s biases in favor of items or against them.

When Do You Use the MoSCoW Method for Prioritization?

MoSCoW prioritization is effective for teams that want to include representatives from the whole organization in their process. You can capture a broader perspective by involving participants from various functional departments.

Another reason you may want to use MoSCoW prioritization is it allows your team to determine how much effort goes into each category. Therefore, you can ensure you’re delivering a good variety of initiatives in each release.

What Are Best Practices for Using MoSCoW Prioritization?

If you’re considering giving MoSCoW prioritization a try, here are a few steps to keep in mind. Incorporating these into your process will help your team gain more value from the MoSCoW method.

1. Choose an objective ranking or scoring system.

Remember, MoSCoW helps your team group items into the appropriate buckets—from must-have items down to your longer-term wish list. But MoSCoW itself doesn’t help you determine which item belongs in which category.

You will need a separate ranking methodology. You can choose from many, such as:

• Weighted scoring
• Value vs. complexity
• Buy-a-feature
• Opportunity scoring

For help finding the best scoring methodology for your team, check out ProductPlan’s article: 7 strategies to choose the best features for your product .

2. Seek input from all key stakeholders.

To make sure you’re placing each initiative into the right bucket—must-have, should-have, could-have, or won’t-have—your team needs context. 

At the beginning of your MoSCoW method, your team should consider which stakeholders can provide valuable context and insights. Sales? Customer success? The executive staff? Product managers in another area of your business? Include them in your initiative scoring process if you think they can help you see opportunities or threats your team might miss. 

3. Share your MoSCoW process across your organization.

MoSCoW gives your team a tangible way to show your organization prioritizing initiatives for your products or projects. 

The method can help you build company-wide consensus for your work, or at least help you show stakeholders why you made the decisions you did.

Communicating your team’s prioritization strategy also helps you set expectations across the business. When they see your methodology for choosing one initiative over another, stakeholders in other departments will understand that your team has thought through and weighed all decisions you’ve made. 

If any stakeholders have an issue with one of your decisions, they will understand that they can’t simply complain—they’ll need to present you with evidence to alter your course of action.  

Related Terms

2×2 prioritization matrix / Eisenhower matrix / DACI decision-making framework / ICE scoring model / RICE scoring model

Prioritizing your roadmap using our guide

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Present content in Microsoft Teams meetings

When working remotely in Microsoft Teams, you can present content by sharing your screen, your entire desktop, a PowerPoint file, and more.

Start presenting content

Note:  If you're using Teams on the web, you'll be able to share your screen only if you're using Google Chrome or the latest version of Microsoft Edge. Screen sharing isn't available for Linux users.

When you're done sharing, select Stop sharing in your meeting controls. 

To turn off screensharing if your screen locks:

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Restart Teams to activate this setting.

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Give control.

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Start sharing your screen.

Select the person you want to give control to. Teams will notify them that you’re sharing control.

Select Take back  to take back control.

Take control 

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Select Request control . The person sharing can approve or deny your request.

Make selections, edits, and other modifications to the shared screen while you have control.

Select Release control to stop sharing control.

Sharing computer sound lets you stream audio from your computer to meeting participants through Teams. You can use it to play a video or audio clip as part of a presentation.

To learn more, see  Share sound from your computer in a Teams meeting or live event .

All sound from your computer, including notifications, will be audible in the meeting.

Optimize for video

Prevent choppiness or lag when you're sharing high-motion content by optimizing video.

To optimize video, select Optimize  in your presenter toolbar. 

Change your layout

When you're sharing content, you can choose from several different layouts to help make your presentation more engaging. 

To change your layout while you're sharing your screen:

Turn your camera on.

Select the layout you want to use:

Content only : Participants will see the content you're sharing in the main Teams window. They'll still be able to see your video feed next to the content.

Standout : This produces an effect on your background that blocks it and helps you stand out in your video feed.

Side-by-side : This view will place you and another participant side-by-side in the meeting window. This helps draw focus to you and other participants who are speaking during the meeting.

Reporter : This layout isolates you from your video feed and places you in front of the content you're sharing, just like a reporter in front of a scene.

Annotate content

To learn more, see Use annotation while sharing your screen in Microsoft Teams .

View participants

After you start presenting, a minimized view of the meeting window will appear next to your shared content. 

Stop sharing

Select Stop sharing in the presenter toolbar to stop sharing your screen and return to the main Teams meeting window.

Share content on a Mac

If you're using a Mac, you'll need to grant permission to Teams to record your computer's screen before you can share. 

You'll be prompted to grant permission the first time you try to share your screen. Select Open System Preferences from the prompt. If you miss the prompt, you can do this anytime by going to Apple Menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security .

Under Screen & System Audio Recording , make sure the toggle next to  Microsoft Teams is turned on.

Go back to your meeting and try sharing your screen again.

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Pinch in or out on your trackpad.

Use Teams keyboard shortcuts .

Hold the Ctrl  key and scroll with your mouse.

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Open shared content in new window

Expand your view by opening shared content in a separate window during your Teams meetings.

To open shared content:

Join your meeting from Teams for desktop .

To minimize content, select X  to close the window.

To share content from your mobile device:

Tap Stop presenting  or Stop sharing when you're done. 

Tip:  To go forward and back in a PowerPoint presentation, swipe in the direction you'd like to go, or tap the forward and back buttons on the bottom of your screen.

Note:  If your role changes from presenter to attendee during a meeting and you're presenting, screensharing will stop.

Zoom in to shared content 

Want to get a better look at shared content?

Pinch in or out to zoom, and tap and drag to see different areas.

Note:  Zoom isn't currently supported when you're sharing photos and videos.

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Tap  Minimize content from the menu

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Use your phone as a companion device in a meeting

Join a meeting on more than one device for more collaboration and content-sharing options.

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There's a lot you can do when you add a companion device to your meeting experience:

Use mobile video to show things that are out of view for remote participants.

Take a photo to share with everyone or pick one from your camera roll.

Use your phone to control a presentation.

Share your mobile screen.

If you can see it on your phone, you can share it in the meeting!

Tip:  For more details, see Join a Teams meeting on a second device .

Add a companion device to a meeting

Open Teams on your mobile phone when you're already in a meeting on another device.

You'll see a message near the top of your screen informing you that you're currently in a meeting on another device, and asking if you want to join it on this one, too. Tap  Join .

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Moscow 2016. Team design

Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini claimed Italy's first ever Olympic tennis gold medal as they beat Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider , 2-6, 6-1, (10-7), to win the women's doubles on Sunday.

Russians Andreeva and Shnaider, who were competing as neutrals, took the opening set but were pinned with silver after the Italian pair fought back.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jasmine Paolini (@jasmine_paolini)

"(It's) not easy after the first set, just wanted to do better in the second set. It's so important... we gave everything and we got the gold medal," Paolini said.

"Obviously we were struggling in the first set, in the end we made it great," Errani added.

Errani, the 37-year-old former doubles world No. 1, became the seventh player to complete the career Golden Slam in women's doubles having won all four majors and the Olympic title.

Errani also became the oldest player to win an Olympic tennis gold, snatching the record that Novak Djokovic, one month her junior, had claimed two hours before by winning the men's singles final.

It was Italy's first ever gold medal in an Olympic tennis event, a day after compatriot Lorenzo Musetti defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime to win bronze in the men's singles.

Italy's only previous tennis medal at the Olympics came at the 1924 Games in Paris, when Uberto de Morpurgo won bronze in men's singles.

Errani and Paolini said they had to settle their nerves to come back from a disappointing first set.

"During the first set we had to slowly find our way into the game," Errani told reporters.

"It was also physically challenging. It was a lot of nervous tension, a lot of pressure," added Errani, who had physiotherapy for a muscle issue after the seventh game.

The Italian pair, however, quickly got a foothold in the contest, serving better and hitting deeper as they took the second set, before coming out on top in the super tiebreak.

"The second set was a complete change. We went for it at the beginning," Errani said. "From that moment on, also, Jasmine has loosened up and we put more pressure on Andreeva and Shnaider and we found the right approach.

"We also tried more smashes. We didn't play close to the net. We got into the game, got into the fight and I can say that both I and Jasmine moved a lot better and that did it."

Andreeva, 17, became the second youngest player in history to win a medal in tennis at the Olympics, after Jennifer Capriati won singles gold in Barcelona 32 years ago at the age of 16 years and 132 days.

The Russian pair were happy with silver on their Olympic debut.

“We are proud of it. We could do better but first time, we are happy with the result," Shnaider said.

MATCH STATS

Spain's Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes Tormo beat Czech pair Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova to win the bronze medal.

MATCH STATS l WOMEN'S DOUBLES BRACKET

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