how do i control my nervousness, i have a big presentation?
354403
I had to do this and was terrified. This worked, and I actually relaxed enough to enjoy doing the presentation! Got compliments. So:\n\nKnow your subject inside and out. Develop a passion for it. Start really wanting to get this info you are presenting out to others--feel a need for them to know and understand it.\n\nPractice, practice, practice! To a mirror for a little while, then to everyone you know. Over and over. Eventually, you'll be so familiar with your presentation you won't feel totally dependent on your notes, you'll just roll. Take the criticisms offered by those you practice to, and use them.\n\nAfter you know your stuff inside and out, you can start concentrating on the audience, as in making eye contact, smiling, what words to emphasize. Practice all of that too. Over and over.\n\nTime each trial run if that's at issue. After a while, know within 30sec. of how long you need. That erases worries during the actual presentation of watching a clock.\n\nKnow your audience. Will there be someone there whom you know well? Who might have been one of your practice audience and knows the drill? Who might give you nods and smiles during?\n\nThat day, wear a favorite outfit that you know looks great and is comfortable. Look your best. Get there incredibly earlier than need be. Walk around the room, know where things are, begin to feel at home. If there's chitchat in the room before things start, mingle. If you're talking to a stranger about the day, if it feels right you might mention that you are a presenter, and a little new at this. Any sympathy drummed up ahead of time from the audience helps, as they sort of send warm vibes to you while you're speaking. And it helps you to feel that they are more understanding of your position. (Just don't whine.)\n\nWhen you know it all inside and out, go practice about 25 more times! Be able to do it in your sleep! Be so bored with the whole thing by the time you get there that you just want to do it, get your warm fuzzies, and move on. Just don't, after awhile, let monotony creep into your voice.\n\nGood luck! Have fun with this, it's actually an amazing growth and confidence-building exercise.I hope my suggestions help a little.
564223
First, get a big club.  Walk around the office with it.  People will start to fear you.  Thats a key component of being a leader.  Next, Do not speak unless all are hushed and at attention.  This shows that you respect yourself, and will make others respect you.  If a few of your coworkers begin having a side conversation during your speech, club them.  Strike them quickly and without remorse.  Also, always ask for input when you are thru with your presentation, this gives your coworkers the idea that you care what they think, whether or not you actually do.
617413
LOTS of preparation is needed.  \n\nFirst, know your topic back to front so that you don't have to memorize what you're going to say.\n\nPlan out what you'll speak about and when.  Outline the whole thing. \n\nUse visual aids, like power point or old fashioned tables and charts.  But, be prepared should something fail.\n\nTry to involve your audience.  However you can.\n\nPretend you're talking to friends.  Most people want to be interested if you'll bring them in.  Smile and think happy thoughts.  And smile.  Oh yeah, also, smile. ^_^\n\nDon't let the numbers scare you.  Presenting for 400 is the same as presenting for 30, 'cept you might need a microphone to be heard in the back!\n\nGood luck, have fun!
516131
yeah, its a pretty normal thing to have stage fright. i've actually heard that most ppl prefer death over talking in front of an audience. lol. dont know if thats true\n\nanyway, these were the tips i have from personal experience\n1) PRACTICE!! a gazillion times. preferably in front of a mirror. if you know what you are talking abt really well, then even if you get nervous, the words will still keep flowing from your mouth.\n2) remember this - you are the one doing the talking, and putting forth your ideas/ suggestions etc. and no one else knows your thoughts on these ideas better than yourself. so you are the Subject Matter Expert (SME, as they say in the technical world) and this gives YOU have the power over THEM. this should give you some confidence\n3) try to find that one person in the audience who is listening to you, probably nodding along to what you are saying. keep looking back to that person - that will give you some reassurance while you make your speech\n4) if you find that the people seem distracted, then look at their necks instead of their face. if you are a good distance away from them, then this will give the illusion that you are looking right at them. \n\ngood luck and take it easy! remember, in the end its only a speech - not your entire life
28289
make sure it's not dragging...limit time for giving speeches. and get a very good emcee.
152821
Body language is key! \n\nStudies have shown that people start judging a presentation from the moment the person is called up from their seat. So while sitting and  anticipating the moment, sit straight with a feeling of optimism, not with that of dread. When called upon, never schlep up front as though a sheep led to slaughter. Stand and walk with confidence with deliberate steps. Turn to your audience and talk "with" them....not "at" them. When I'm presenting, I often believe I'm only talking to 3 or 4 people vs. 200. It helps make your audience feel you are personalizing your topic just especially for them. If you "disconnect" yourself by speaking about a topic instead of pulling your audience INTO the presentation, you will lose your audience. Involve them......make them feel they are as integral a part of the presentation as you are! Gestures, proximity to your audience, facial expressions, laughter and smiles all are part of a positive presentation that will leave your audience clamoring for more! Good luck......and let us know how it goes!
605364
Think about being efficient.  Everytime you feel yourself getting excited about a topic and wanting to elaborate, hold off.  This may mean trying to limit your responses to 5 or six pleasant, well- planned words.  Try not to use adjectives- those can get on people's nerves.\nYou can contact a therapist or like it has been noted, a speech pathologist.  Those can be expensive- just try your friends and family, I'm sure they know about your chatty habit and all probably have a few opinions on how you can slow down.  Just like smoking, it will be a hard thing to quit, but you can do it!  And you will probably LOVE the results.
706108
Best thing you can do is appear cool and calm. That makes you appear confident.....
1001233
Before or after your presentation, you could distribute some simple (but yes, make it attractive as well) flyers / pamphlets to your audience.. It helps them know that you've put in a lot of effort to your presentation and that you're really interested for them to know what you've got to present to them.. That was what my groupmates and I did for our final year project's presentation and we got an A for it! The panel of lecturers liked it a lot! The other students did not have such flyers for their presentation, so that was advantageous to us as well..\n\nPresent your points and speak with the fullest confidence you can(but not arrogantly, as though you know everything - it's a turn off).. That's the most important - confidence.. Also, give the right body language (hand gestures, etc) and do not speak in mono-tones.. Speak clearly and loud enough for your audience to hear you as well.. Maintain good eye contact to your audience too, so that you can keep their attention focused on your presentation.. Rehearse a bit of all your important lines the day before, so that you will be fully prepared on what you want to say for the presentation.. Use proper English (I assume your presentation is going to be in English) with the correct wordings and grammar (I'm sure you've got all these taken care of).. \n\nOh yeah, since you've got killer presentation slides, try your best not to read "everything" from the slides - or it will kinda defeat the purpose of having killer presentation slides anyway.. \n\nTowards the end of your presentation, perhaps you could also present a demo (if relevant) to your audience - it helps them see the practical side of what you've been trying to convey to them earlier.. Make the demo interesting and do it creatively.. =) Your audience will like it.. \n\nFinally, do dress well for your big day and all the best for your presentation!
1012279
Best thing I learned through four years of acting school was to keep practicing. If you have to do this presentation soon, go to a public place, any place, the mall, the park, where it is fairly crowded. Practice your debate or your side of the debate here. Raise your voice, and give your speech. People will look at you like your insane at first, but you will notice after a while, they will start to ignore you. If you can get comfortable doing this when you give the real debate it will be a piece of cake! It take guts, but try it! It really works! and if you can't do this practice alone, take some friends with you to cheer you on. Stage fright fear is, funny, and powerful, once you get over it, you can wield it like a wizard and use your stage presence to win your audience. Hope you try it and good luck!
1113167
Lots of people get nervous speaking in front of people. It is very daunting to see all those people who are hanging over your every word.  When you get really nervous, take a deep breath and count to 3, then just try to continue speaking. Realize that people aren't judging you and are probably more focused on what you are reading rather than the way you are reading it. If worse comes to worse you can just look for a familiar face in the crowd, like maybe a friend, and focus your attention on them. Make it seem as if you are just there reading to your friend.
946407
Practice your speech in front of friends/family first.  They will give you good practice and help suggest things you might not have noticed like you're moving your hands around too much.\nPut the speech in perspective.  Talk as though your speech is the most important thing in the world and you need to get out there and let the world know what you have to say.\nYou are too focused on what people will think and truthfully no one will really remember.\nAlso practice daily visualization of your perfect speech.  Imagine over and over how well it will go.  Don't negativity into your mind.  And just do it!  Turn your fear into a nice rush.\nEverything will go okay.
204399
calm down! it will be ok. i hate presenting too and i get really nervous and get the sweaty palms and everything. but i usually concentrate on what i have to say and hoping that i dont screw it up.hope i helped!
613429
If you are prepared, then you have nothing to worry about.  Also, you may be so fearful of making a mistake that you obsess over every little thing.  I have found after almost 30 years of teaching that you just have to be flexible and have a sense of humor.  If things mess up, laugh and go on.  Your audience will appreciate that more than you getting upset.  Once you are prepared, get out, do something else.  Take a walk, visit with friends, swim, watch a movie .... relax your mind.  Take deep breaths.
573572
good luck, power point presentations are about the most broing thing ever.  try to make your speech more exciting so you're not just reading slides.  nothing is more boring then that and people feel like you wasted their time.
891599
Oh yeah, I am nervous in front of a large crowd.\nbut practice makes perfect.
197679
PRACTICE.\n\nI recommend doing a mock presentation and making sure you have everything down exactly as you want it, including timing, eye contact, etc.\n\nAlso if you want a long term improvement, you should join ToastMasters, an organization that will help you in this department. Try: http://www.toastmasters.org/