I won’t surprise anyone by saying that more than a few of the presenters we’ve trained over the years have struggled with a little thing we call “anxiety” leading up to the presentation moment. For most, a little practice is all it takes to step on stage with confidence; for others, the entire gig is always one ambiguous glance from an audience member away from a total meltdown. Managing anxiety is something we all deal with, but there’s one strategy we can’t recommend highly enough (assuming the speaking opportunity involves travel): show up way, way early.
Travel is a hassle. By the time you find a dang parking spot, wrestle your bags into the airport, subject yourself to inappropriate touching and body scanning by the TSA, have your knees bashed out by refreshment carts, smell other people who are far too close for far too long, and elbow your fellow man for a spot in the exit line, you’re bound to be a bit frustrated. Add to this base layer a little anxiety about performance and you’re toast if you strut from the taxi cab to the stage right away.
(The situation is often no better if you’re presenting on home turf. Slip on a skateboard, sit in traffic, spill your coffee, see your boss…you get the point).
You can’t fight fire with fire. There’s no biting the bullet with anxiety–powering through is not really something people do. Individuals who have a handle on the nerves tend to do an extremely good job of preparing and arriving in a peaceful state of mind. So how do we accomplish that?
1. Exercise: Alas, the most reliable way to burn off useless energy. The mind doesn’t tire, but the body does. And believe it or not, anxiety is often a malady of the body. Restlessness is not your friend.
2. Sit Still: If you sit still for a little while, your anxious thoughts will probably surface. If you sit still a little longer, you’ll be able to work through them rationally. Meanwhile, the slow, controlled breathing and lazy study time will calm the nerves and leave you more prepared for the show.
3. Do Something Fun: You’re doing a brave and powerful thing, going on stage. Why not enjoy a premature reward to put yourself in a positive state of mind? A happy presenter is a good presenter, we think.
As you can see, anxiety-busters often have a teensy requirement: give yourself time to manage yourself. The best way to ensure you’re all nerves is to procrastinate, arrive late, and then step on stage. So do yourself a favor and arrive way, way early.
