Breathing Space Therapies Newsletter

My friend and subscriber to this newsletter, Sara Ridgley, asked me for some tips for her students on her Creative Writing course with Buckinghamshire Adult Learning. She wanted to give them some ideas on confidence building prior to giving presentations. As well as her work with Bucks Adult Learning, Sara is a poet, lyricist, article and short story writer. She writes for children and adults and is author of Simply Pickles, comedy cookbook on - er, pickles, available from www.amazon.co.uk.

For some of us, public speaking is the scariest thing to contemplate.   According to a research study in the States, some of us would rather face death than deliver a speech!

So if you're amongst those who find presentations your worst nightmare, here is what I shared with Sara and her students.

1. Be well prepared. Check your presentation equipment and do a timed run through. If you can do it in front of a colleague or friend whose opinion you trust and who can give you positive criticism, that would be ideal.

2. Always have a fall-back so that, if the technology breaks down for any reason, you know you have a 'Plan B'.

3. Pre-empt what kind of questions you are likely to be asked and have your replies well rehearsed.

4. Wear something you feel great in on the day of your presentation so that you feel good about how you look. This is hugely important. Psychologist Mehrabian tells us that only 5% of the actual words we say are taken in. How we look and how we sound make much more of an impact!

5. Practice breathing & relaxation techniques daily. They generally help you to be calm, but your also are key to calming nerves before a presentation. Before the presentation, take a few minutes to sit quietly, close your eyes and breathe deeply into the diaphragm. This slows your heart rate and once your heart slows down, nervous symptoms also calm down.

You may like to work with a copy of my recording, 'Self-confidence in a Box'. They're usually £9.99 but are currently on offer at £5.95.  You can access it in CD or Download format. If you email me on annie@breathingspacetherapies.com, I'll send you a Paypal invoice (you don't need a Paypal account) and can pay by most credit and debit cards.

6. Practice visualisation in the days before the presentation. See yourself making your presentation confidently and with great clarity. See your presentation being well-received and see yourself receiving compliments on it. Notice everything in great detail. What the scene looks like, who is there, what is there, the sounds, tastes, smells, sounds and feelings of what it's like when you deliver a successful presentation and breathe all these good things in.

7. Use affirmations such as 'I am able to speak calmly and with confidence and conviction in all situations' and 'I am cool, calm and confident in all situations. I know my subject and am well-prepared.' And 'I am a confident, clear presenter who is able to engage and impress my audience'. Repeat these as often as possible every day and especially just before the presentation.

8. Remember to keep breathing deeply through your presentation, and speak slowly and clearly. Take your time and don't rush your delivery.

9. People actually want you to do well in presentations and will enjoy your delivery if you engage them with an interesting tone of voice, good clear content and a confident persona. Remember they are human too.

Some people find it really helpful when delivering presentations to pretend they are someone else. Someone very successful who they see as a great orator or just someone full of confidence. You could, for example choose to pretend to be President Obama, a colleague you're impressed by or a TV presenter who appeals to you. That's not to say you're trying imitate them - simply to have their kind of confidence and ACT your presentation.

10. If you're travelling to your presentation, leave plenty of time for your journey and to set-up prior to it, so that you are calm and collected.

Finally, remember, when you're on the podium, you are in control.

I hope this newsletter has stimulated some thoughts and ideas. Do let me have your feedback and views. Keep well, productive and happy and do let me know if I can help in any way.

With love and thanks as always

Annie

Annie Lawler

Annie Lawler offers emotional & spiritual pain relief through a unique combination of therapies and intuitive coaching to create calm, clarity & confidence in clients' lives.

If you want to know more about how I can help you, using proven techniques which work fast, call me on

0772 581 8884 or contact me on

annie@breathingspacetherapies.com