Company leaders often must speak in front of groups of people, but doing so does not come naturally to all leaders, and nervousness may get in the way.
In an Inc. article, Matt Abrahams, host of the podcast “Think Fast, Talk Smart” and author of “Speaking Up Without Freaking Out,” shares the following three techniques many experienced speakers use to stay calm and get their message across.
- Handle the physical symptoms of nervousness. When you get nervous, your heart beats fast, you may blush or sweat, or you may speak too fast. Slow down your heart rate and avoid talking too fast by doing deep belly breathing. Abrahams also recommends moving around to help reduce adrenaline, as well as cooling yourself down by holding something cold in the palm of your hand.
- Bring yourself into the present moment. Abrahams highlights the importance of focusing on connection, not perfection. People also often are afraid they will not achieve their goal, and it is crucial to focus on the present rather than be worried about the future. Before speaking to a group, he recommends doing something that can bring you into the present, such as listening to a song, shaking your body out, counting backward or doing a tongue twister.
- Focus your attention on your audience. “It’s really important to be audience focused,” Abrahams says. “When we are too focused on ourselves, that’s when anxiety comes in and we lose connection with others.” Focusing on the audience means being curious, honing your listening skills and reflecting on what is important to your audience members. Learn as much as you can about your audience beforehand to avoid losing their attention.
