Read previous chapters below:
Chapter 1 - Quit Being Afraid!
Everything we’ve covered to this point is planning and preparation. Using our boxing analogy, think of that time as being in training camp. Training camp is a place to condition and strategize. You’ll do plenty of roadwork and sparring. You’ll watch films of your opponent.
Eventually, you’ll break camp and get to the venue where your fight will be held. By now, the training should have made everything about this fight automatic in your mind. If you trained properly, you’ll almost be fighting on instinct!
Much of what you do in the short period between preparation and presentation has the potential to either ruin your hard work or give you the final “polish” before you present. How you treat yourself during that final day before the presentation could make all the difference in a rousing success, or a less favorable result.
With that in mind, let’s go over some techniques to prepare you for the main event!
Get Some Sleep
I know this is easier said than done. If you’ve been nervous thinking about this day, you’ll probably be too wound up to sleep. However, a good night’s sleep will leave you refreshed and with the ability to get through all your material and make all your points clearly.
Here are a few suggestions for getting a restful night of sleep before the main event:
· Turn the TV off
· Turn your phone off
· Eat a light meal
· No caffeine (this means sodas and chocolate too!)
· No alcohol (yes, this means beer and wine too!)
· No sleeping pills
· Take a hot bath
· Go for a long walk in the early evening
Everything you do the night before should be conflict and stress free. If you always get into arguments with certain people, don’t visit or call them that evening. When you crawl into bed, don’t do your visualization activities, even if they’re totally positive (and they always should be). Relax and do something nice for yourself.
I often get up in the middle of the night before big events. When that happens, I usually start to think about the big event, which gets my mind working, then before I know it, I’ll be wide awake and unable to wind back down and go to sleep. If this happens to you, just get up. Go to your living room, turn the light on, and read a book. You’ll be amazed at how tired you’ll get and before you know it, you’ll get back to bed and fall asleep quickly. If you just can’t seem to relax, get in the shower and get dressed. Your body will adapt to the early hour, and you probably won’t feel tired. If your event is later that evening, you can always take a nap.
Eat Light
Sometimes you’ll be presenting at a lunch or dinner event. Usually, you’ll do your speech either during dessert or shortly after. What you eat during that time is important.
Don’t eat a huge meal. Your body requires energy to digest food. If you’re stuffing yourself with a lot of heavy food, your circulatory system will be working overtime to get digestion going. You need that circulatory system to be flooding your brain!
Try eating fruit, salads or some light pasta. Save the steak and baked potato for your celebration dinner. Avoid spicy or very salty foods. You’ll want to get in front of the crowd feeling your best, not worried about water retention or an upset stomach. Don’t drink a lot of caffeine or alcohol. You don’t want to approach the podium tipsy or with an overactive bladder. Also, don’t drink any carbonated drinks before speaking. You don’t want to be up there in front of everyone burping or getting the hiccups. These same rules apply for meals eaten the night before your presentation. Moderation and discretion are your friends here. Don’t overdo it – feed your brain and it will be there for you the next day!
Don’t Over Train
It’s possible to be TOO prepared. Over training is a common problem with athletes. If you watch a lot of boxing, you’ll hear commentators make remarks that the fighter “left the fight in the gym.”
I’ve worked with enough presenters to see the results of over-preparation. There is a fine balance between knowing your material, and having it so memorized that it becomes flat and uninspiring. Practice is important, but when your coach or the people you work with tell you that “you’ve got it,” then begin to ramp down your preparation. Visualization is enough practice for you at this point.
Visualize Nothing but Positive
This is nothing more than a reminder. Visualize perfection and you can’t help but hit excellence. Refuse to think any negative thoughts. If your preparation was thorough, you’ll do just fine!
Double Check Your Visuals
Your visuals of course should be irrelevant. In other words, people are coming to hear YOU speak, not to see your visuals. However, if you’re going to use them, do one last check to ensure they’re ready as well. Make sure your markers are in your bag if you’re using a flip chart. Double check the version of your PowerPoint® slides and make sure the draft you’re using is the right one. If you’re bringing your own laptop and projector, gather up all the cords, adapters, manuals, recovery disks, and extra bulbs and put them in your car. Make a checklist if that helps. The preparation has paid off – now it’s time to tap into your inner strength and deliver the knockout!
The moments before your big event could be very tense. If you feel your heart racing and your breathing labored, this is normal! Remember the difference between fear and adrenaline? If you’ve prepared well, fear should not exist. Then our goal is to temper the adrenaline, so we don’t get up in front of the audience and finish our 30-minute presentation in five minutes. Try the following techniques to calm yourself down:
Breathe
Correct breathing is key to relaxing and ridding our bodies of toxins and stress. When we inhale, air enters the lungs and eventually makes its way to the cells via the blood stream. When we exhale, we rid the body of carbon dioxide and negative thoughts. Ironically, when we become stressed, we breathe faster and use only 1/3 of our lung capacity. This decrease in oxygen increases stress by contributing to lethargy (increased tiredness), preventing the release of toxins and increasing the workload of other body systems (especially the respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous system).
Breathing is so automatic that most of us are not aware of how we breathe. Deep breathing (abdominal breathing) is the proper way to breathe. Place your hand on your lower stomach. Your hand should move outward (not your chest) as you inhale. Breathe in as deeply as possible, hold it, and breathe out slowly. Making this a daily practice during non-stressful situations will make this tool available to you during stressful times.
Smile
It takes more facial muscles to frown than it does to smile. Relax your face and the rest of your body by smiling. You’ll feel better about yourself and your audience will get the idea that you’re friendly and happy to be there.
Think Happy Thoughts
As part of your visualization, you should be incorporating the feelings you felt during happy times in your life. Anchor yourself to these good memories and take in the positive power they bring to you.
Think Positive Thoughts
These are not only your happy thoughts, but also the confident, powerful thoughts built through long hours of preparation. If you can think of no other positive thought, then use this one:
If you were asked to speak, somebody thought you were an expert in what you knew. If you asked to speak, YOU thought you were an expert in what you do. Either way, YOU are the expert. Your audience is privileged to hear from YOU!
Enjoy the Moment
This is the moment you stressed over, trained for, and will celebrate from. It’s your moment in the spotlight, perhaps your 15 minutes of fame. Make the most of it – you’ll always think back to this time as one of the great moments in your life!
What Happens Now?
If you’ve done your preparation, know your materials, and are mentally and physically ready, then only one thing CAN happen:
“I’m sitting in the front row, nervously awaiting my turn at the podium. The nervousness though is focused – I’m prepared and I’m ready! I was asked to present in front of this group because I’m an expert in my field. Nobody else knows the subject, they always come to me with questions. My notes are carefully prepared, but I won’t even need them, for I have rehearsed this presentation a hundred times over. There’s no need to worry about the PowerPoint® slides, I don’t have any. My audience wants to hear from me, not a fancy animated word display.
I’m now being introduced. The audience applauds. I make my way to the podium, confidently lay my notes down, and deliver my well-rehearsed opening line. My voice is strong and confident. There is no quivering, no throat clearing, no “ums.” The audience is in my hand. They are putty before me. I’m shaping them with my every word. Each of my points is clear, my illustrations vivid. I make eye contact with all of them. Forget that nonsense about seeing them in their underwear, I see their eyes.
The time passes so quickly up here. I begin to wind down and deliver a powerful conclusion. The audience stands and applauds. The questions and answer period now begins. My audience (yes, they are mine – I molded them with my words) has obviously listened to learn. They ask me questions that appear to be unanswerable to them, but the answers roll off my tongue. Heads nod in approval, and copious notes are taken. I’m the expert and they appreciate my sharing a few moments with them.
Alas, the time is up. Once again, I hear thunderous applause. I quickly and gracefully move off the stage and out the back door. It was an incredible experience!”
A positive, life-changing event just occurred! You are a success. You’ll forever be known as “that great speaker we had at the meeting last year.” Life will be different for you now. People will ask you to help them prepare their presentation. You’ll be asked for help developing visuals. People will want you to critique them. Novice presenters will want you to coach them.
Your schedule will become much busier. People need subject matter experts, particularly those that communicate well. Who knows, maybe you’ll write books and give seminars? The world becomes full of exciting and wonderful opportunities when you master the art of public speaking!
Points to Ponder
1. Did I prepare as much as possible?
2. Am I physically ready to present?
3. Am I mentally ready to present?
4. Did I pack my materials carefully?
5. Am I ready for the new, exciting, and busy life I’ll have after this successful presentation?
