When your hospital or department asks you, “Could we put you on the schedule to present Grand Rounds?” do you break out in a cold sweat? You aren’t alone. Nearly eight out of ten people have some level of fear about speaking in public. Nervous energy isn’t always bad.

It can help you prepare for a big presentation, whether it’s Grand Rounds, a conference talk, a community event, or a media interview. But if you find yourself with an extreme case of stage fright, here are five tips to make public speaking less scary.

1. Remember that you are valuable to the audience.

You’ve been selected to speak because of your expertise. The world needs what you have! Harness your generosity. Think of your presentation as a gift.

Organize your talk with three main messages. If you have more than that, no one will remember. If you have fewer, you’ll sound repetitive.

2.  Know that the audience is rooting for you!

Instead of viewing the people in the audience as your critical adversaries, think of them as your friends. They want you to succeed as much as you do. Smile! Make eye contact! Speak as if you’re having a conversation with just one person.

With that in mind, use stories to make a connection. The human brain is primed to process stories. Wrap the facts into a story, and your audience will remember what you say.

Don’t fret about screwing up. No one is expecting perfection. If you stumble on a slide or a comment, acknowledge and move on. The fact that you are a human, and not a robot, is endearing.

3. Watch what you eat and drink before your presentation.

Caffeine can make you shaky and jittery. Carbonated beverages could make you burp. Alcohol might make you fuzzy. You know what agrees with you and what doesn’t. Be mindful of that on the day you are speaking.

Some people take benzodiazepines or beta blockers to help them get through a speaking gig. If this is part of your routine, okay. But don’t take the pharmaceutical route for the first time before you go on. You never know how you might react.

4. Visualize success.

Athletes use the technique of visualization to enhance their performance –they mentally rehearse making the basket, doing the flip, scoring the goal. Simply envisioning doing it perfectly can aid their performance, even if they don’t touch their racket or ball.

This can be helpful in public speaking, too. Imagine walking onto the stage, standing at the podium, connecting with the audience, and progressing through your slides. Imagine radiating confidence and warmth. It will shine through when you do it for real.

If you’re still feeling nervous, breathing and relaxation exercises, yoga, meditation, or going for a walk can help you release some of the tension.

5. Practice, practice, practice.

Practice out loud. Do the words sound natural and conversational? Are the slides easy to read for the audience? Where do you trip up, and why? It can be helpful to have someone else listen to your talk. See if your colleagues will indulge you. You could also work with a presentation coach.

The Q&A can be a source of stress for some speakers. There are techniques for handling the tough questions and the questions for which there are no good answers. You can also practice Q&A with colleagues or a coach.

Instead of thinking about what could go wrong, think about what could go right! While most people find public speaking uncomfortable, just about everyone will have to do it for their job at some point. When you do it well, it’s a win-win for you and the audience. ☤

 

Dr. Maria Simbra is the coach, consultant, and principal at Dr. Maria ON Speaking, LLC. She is a neurologist, turned TV medical reporter, turned media and presentation coach for doctors at DrMariaONSpeaking.com