“A reputation takes time to build, and losing it can cause damage to future career success,” said Anita Bruzzese.
While trying to secure your business reputation, it’s important to oust the fears and insecurities creeping into your presentation base.
Symptoms of fear such as a racing heartbeat, sweaty palms, and shortness of breath prevent you from thinking properly, damaging your credibility.
Fight your nerves.
Secure your professional standing, and defend yourself at any cost against any threat.
Fight, Not Flight
The stress of presenting to a large group of listeners can trigger an adrenaline rush.
This fight or flight response occurs when faced with a threatening situation.
According to Harvard physiologist Walter Cannon, this response is hard-wired into our brains and was design to protect our ancestors from physical harm.
But as we’ve moved on from our hunter-gatherer roots, our desires and fears have similarly changed.
That’s why when all eyes and ears are on you, your body prepares to fight or flee from the perceived threat of a failed speech.
Although this response is automatic, you can still choose which impulse weighs more.
In presentations, empowering yourself to fight is always a better option.
Stay calm and stand your ground to win your customers.
Learn from past nerve-wracking experiences to improve your overall comfort when presenting onstage.
Ask for Help
Everyone makes mistakes and no one is immune to panic while in a presentation.
Worst case scenario, you might even take a hit to your credibility, given a major slip-up.
Seeking outside help is a good solution to this problem.
Specifically, ask for helpful feedback from trusted friends or colleagues.
Rehearse your speech in front of them beforehand to pinpoint areas for improvement.
This lets you think of ways to improve your technique and toughen your nerves.
Constant development gives you the courage to fight your fears.
It’s hard to defend your reputation without backup.
Find allies who’ll inspire you to become a better presenter.
Seek advice from someone you trust to help you build up a sizeable advantage.
Stay Calm
Calming your body down cuts down on stress.
In fact, this is the easiest way to avoid getting overpowered by your public speaking fears.
Going for a brisk walk before you present is ideal for controlling your panic attacks.
Besides walking, some breathing exercises also help relieve stress and fear.
Slow and deep breathing helps improve blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration.
Set your two hands on your abdomen, then do the popular inhale-and-exhale method.
This meditative practice allows positive feelings to rule over the negative ones.
Sometimes, all you need is a deep breath and quick walk to help you survive your speech.
Conquer Your Nerves!
The fear of public speaking can be the end of your reputation.
If things aren’t under control, you might be seen as unprepared and unprofessional.
Finding ways to calm your nerves protects your professional standing from unnecessary hits.
It only takes three easy steps.
Find the courage to fight your fear.
Be positive and work on improving your self-confidence.
And lastly, stay calm to alleviate your stage fright.
Defeat the fear creeping into your presentation base to secure your business image.
References
“5 Minute Stress Mastery.” The Body Soul Connection. n.d. Accessed September 28, 2015.
“Presentation Nerves: making them work for you!” Presentation Magazine. February 12, 2012. Accessed September 28, 2015.
