Investor’s Business Daily
By Gerald A Achstatter

You’ve got your finger on the pulse of your firm. And it’s as healthy as can be. Now you’re being asked to share that good news with the press, analysts, even your own staff. Your first thought: “That wasn’t in the job description.”

Reluctance to speak in front of large groups is widespread, and even the very best speakers have bouts of stage fright. It’s long been recognized as one of out greatest fears. For many, a visit to the dentist is a much-preferred fate.

But overcoming the fear of public speaking is a step towards self-mastery. If you can’t effectively communicate your winning strategies, management techniques or leadership ideas, you might hurt the progress of your firm. Your ideas will, literally, die with you.

How do you master presentation panic? When your stomach begins to churn, your palms begin to sweat, your hands shake, and your voice cracks – how do you lift yourself above the panic and deliver a calm, collected and poignant speech?

The first step is to understand the reason for the fear. “So many people prepare their presentations based on themselves and not on their audience,” said Tony Jeary, author of “Inspire Any Audience” (Honor Books). By reversing this focus, you get out from under your own “internal microscope.”

Eliminate The Unknowns

Once that shift is made, recognize that you belong there, in front of the room, says Overland Park, Kan.-based William Hendricks, co-author of “Secrets of Power Presentations” (Career Press). “When you feel you’re needed, a lot of fear goes away,” Hendricks said.

Another way to calm jittery nerves is to remove as many of the unknowns as possible. These include the room, the audience and any equipment that you’ll use during the presentation.

Then get a good running start by knowing exactly what you’ll say for the first 10-15 minutes. Your audience also has to know where you’re going with you talk.

To help you meet this need, prepare an outline, Jeary says. It should include:

• The time allotted for each segment.
• What you’ll cover.
• The reason you’ve chosen that material.
• How you will deliver your message (video, overheads, for example).

The speaker’s personality has much to do with how presentations are prepared. “Introverts write and write and write,” Hendricks said. “But you can’t read your presentation. You must put it in outline form.”

Professional speakers, on the other hand, talk out their presentations. But they need some way to be sure they don’t forget important material. What the pros consider important may be a bit surprising: “I throw out content before I throw out stories and illustrations,” Hendricks said. “People remember stories and illustrations.”

But be careful. anecdotes can’t be longer than three minutes, or you’ll lose the audience, Hendricks adds. Preferably, they should be less than a minute in length. So “you have to decide what details are critical.”

Stories also help liven up presentations. To spice up your talk even further, use other aids, such as visuals and props.

Before Speaking – Defining Presentation Objectives:

• Determine the action you want the audience to take.
• Define your audience.
• Brainstorm to determine needs (yours-audience).
• Focus these needs into written objectives
• Test these objectives mentally.
• Source: Tony Jeary

When using these, be careful not to draw attention away from what is being said. If you’re making an important point and are waving a prop around, your audience will be watching the prop and not listening to you. Use it; then set it down.

Pointer Pointers

If you use a pointer, be careful you don’t speak to the chart you may be pointing at, with your back to the audience. Place your pointer in the correct position, and then turn to speak to the audience.

When you aren’t using it, keep the pointer to your side, along your leg. This will keep people focused on what you’re saying. When there is nothing else you will use the pointer for, place it down.

The most important way to assure an upbeat presentation is through audience involvement, Jeary says. “Get feedback. Ask them to take notes. Turn the presentation over to them.” Every five to seven minutes, also include some form of attention-grabber, such as games, skits or activities, Jeary adds a “fun factor” to your presentation.

These techniques also help you make a transition from one topic to another. But don’t expect them to take the place of transitions. You need a logical connection between topics. Without one, your audience is left hanging. “People like closure,” Jeary said.

Questions are still another way to shake an audience out of the doldrums. Generate your own, or solicit them from the listeners. When asking a question, “Walk towards the person,” Hendricks said. “Then, restate the question while maintaining eye contact.” Finally, “Walk backwards and give the answer to the whole room.”

Use Experts As Allies

There are bound to be experts in the audience who can provide better answers than yours. Seek out these experts. But be sure they answer you directly and not the person posing the question. Otherwise, you risk losing control.

You can also lose control when such “experts” become confrontational. You can lead off this problem by making these people your allies before you begin you presentation.

Just as you wanted to make a good first impression, the close is also key. Summarize your presentation. Avoid running out of steam before your presentation ends. “When you close, ask the audience to make a commitment,” Hendricks said.

Be warned that the adrenaline rush provided by successful presentations can lead to undoing unwary speakers. One minute, you’re basking in the sunlight (or spotlight). Success at the podium can be euphoric. The danger is overstaying your welcome.

“Say it and sit down,” Hendricks said.