How to overcome nervousness and ace business presentations

Anyone who has watched The Social Network knows the power Mark Zucherburg holds, not only his academic genius but also his ability to Market facebook and single-handedly popularise social networking. You would imagine that he is a flawless speaker but this young billionaire is in fact a slave to his nerves. Just go back to his 2015 press release and you’ll see him visibly drowning in a pool of his sweat; a common indicator of stage fright.

Before a presentation of pitch, have you ever felt a tingling feeling in the pit of your stomach? Maybe even a shortness of breath and dizzy feeling? You could very well be experiencing typical symptoms of anxiety. One common type of social anxiety is presentation anxiety, often known as stage fright or glossophobia. Anxiety related to presentations or public speaking is thought to affect about 75% of people in some way (Ronald, 1998). On-the-job performance can be significantly impacted by presentation anxiety. According to surveys conducted by the University of Glasgow, 20% of people claim that their fear of public speaking has prevented them from advancing in their careers or caused them to pass up chances (Rein et. al., 2009).

The methods, responsibilities, and working environments in the sales industry make it easy for any employee to develop social anxiety, which is fear of being judged in actual or imagined social interactions (Schlenker & Leary, 1982). Though limited, the available study (Agnihotri et al., 2016, Belschak et al., 2006, Verbeke and Bagozzi, 2000, Verbeke et al., 2016) demonstrates that business professionals suffer anxiety linked to both firm and customer assessments, such as presentation anxiety and attachment anxiety.

Tips to overcome anxiety and nervousness using body language:

1. Focus your thoughts :

Our thoughts have more power over us that=n we give credit. When you are in infront of your client and start panicking, the first thoughts that consume your mind are “What if I fail when everyone is depending on me?”, “What if the proposal doesn’t go well”, etc. Such thoughts will only manifest negative outcomes. So whenever you feel yourself spiralling down, refocus your mind by changing the direction of your thoughts. You can do this by revising the content of your presentation, making small talk with your partner or client or following certain ritual behaviours that suit you.

2. Rewiring your brain :

Research shows that, when in a stressful situation, people are 12 times more likely to engage in negative self-talk and catastrophic thinking (Chris, 1992). This can be hazardous to your presentation. Instead try to engage in positive self-talk. There are various dimensions of self-talk (Van, 1984) which can include self-motivation and self-determination. Before your presentation, try to remind yourself about your hardwork and induce thoughts such as “I am well-dressed for this presentation”, “I used to be praised in school when presenting in class for the tone of my voice”, etc. Try this consecutively for 3 to 4 presentations and you will notice your brain automatically focuses on positive aspects of yourself.

3. Regulate your breathing :

When presenting, it is necessary to be calm and composed to earn the trust of your clients. Try engaging in breathing exercises before your presentation. The stability of your breath and the pace of your voice are key during the presentation.

4. Smile :

When presenting, it is necessary to connect with your audience. You may come off as robotic. Instead try smiling towards your clients when presenting in front of them. This can create a positive mental image as well as easy the tense atmosphere (Caswell, 1993)

How to Overcome Nervousness and Ace Business Presentations

5. Maintain Eye-contact :

A common advice people get is to look around the room to all your audience when you’re presenting. This can sometimes be counter-productive. If you keep looking around the room, you may end up not making effective eye-contact with anyone at all. Instead look at certain individuals as per your specific pointers (Gershman, 2019). This not only shows knowledge of a person’s expertise as well as confidence. According to research in the journal “Psychological Science”, people interpret eye contact as a sign of competence and persuasion in speakers (Shmidt, 2022). Making eye contact with your audience helps you connect with them and demonstrates your confidence and focus. Keeping eye contact for a few seconds with each person you are looking at in the audience before moving on to the next person. Don’t fixate on one area or keep your eyes glued to your notes or slides. Researchers from the “Journal of Nonverbal Behaviour” found that audiences perceived speakers who made greater eye contact as more convincing and engaging. You may make sure your message is heard and comprehended as you want by maintaining eye contact.

6. Open Gesture and Posture :

Using open gestures and keeping excellent posture can make presenters feel more at ease and more confident. According to studies, adopting open postures and power poses can cause psychological and physiological changes that promote self-assurance and decrease stress. Open hand motions and a straight back may increase audience engagement and draw them in. According to research, audiences find speakers who make wide motions and keep their shoulders back to be more energetic and engaging. According to research, audiences tend to view speakers as more educated and competent when they employ open gestures and have decent posture. This impression might enhance the audience’s opinion of your knowledge and make them more open to your ideas.

A body language that exudes assurance, suggests that you are in command and are confident in yourself. Slouching and crossing your arms might give off an uneasy, closed-off vibe. According to studies, a presenter who seems confident and committed to their pitch increases the likelihood of business presentations being accepted by 17% (Klepper, 1987). While we cannot completely get rid of our anxiety before a performance, we can use our body language to calm ourselves down and/or mask it. In order to project confidence and calm during business presentations, body language is vital. So next time you have a presentation in front of a client, stand tall with your shoulders back and your head held high, Take a couple deep breaths and then begin your presentation. You might just be able to overcome your anxiety like Samuel Jackson!

Reference

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Sarah Greshman, To Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking, Stop Thinking About Yourself, 2019.
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