Taming the Butterflies

Five techniques for overcoming public speaking nerves

by Beverly Y. Langford, author of "The Etiquette Edge" and president of LMA Communication. Dr. Langford teaches management communication in the Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University.

April 20, 2009

W hen you are out with friends, you're the life of the party.  You enjoy conversations with coworkers and clients. In a brainstorming session, you are a fountain of creativity.  However, when you stand up to make a formal business presentation or address an organization with a luncheon speech, everything changes.  You break out in a sweat.  Your hands get cold, and your mouth gets dry.  You feel like you need to breathe into a paper bag.  And, to top it off, your mind goes blank.

You're not sick.  You are just suffering from the fear of speaking in public that plagues countless people in all occupations.  In fact, in surveys about what scares us, public speaking always ranks close to the top of the list.  However, being an effective speaker can shift your career into overdrive, and many companies overlook otherwise capable people because they can't make a great sales pitch, explain a new process, or report on a successful project.  Understanding the causes and cures of presentation nerves can help you take a giant step forward in your development.

What makes us nervous?

Speaking in public is a complicated affair because you have to manage a number of components.  You have to remember your content, manage your presence and nonverbals, handle visual support in some cases, and respond to both the spoken and unspoken feedback that you are getting from the audience.

Additionally, when you stand in front of your audience, with your projected visuals behind you, the situation is even more unsettling, making your challenges even greater.  Your angst is compounded if you are on a stage in a darkened room with a spotlight, and the audience's eyes, on you.

Because the spoken communication channel is rich and broad, it's also hard to control.  A lot can go wrong.  We fear looking foolish, boring our audience, or jeopardizing our social or business status.  Sometimes, our fear may even arise from what is commonly known as the impostor syndrome, where we can't internalize our accomplishments and therefore don't think we really deserve to be in front of people telling them what to do or how to do it.  Most of us feel unworthy at one time or another, but you are usually the most knowledgeable person in the room on the topic you are presenting.

Here are some techniques for managing your presentation discomfort.

Realize that your audience wants you to succeed.

People aren't there to see you fail.  They want to learn from you, and they are much more comfortable themselves if you deliver your message with confidence.  Think of times you have witnessed a presentation when the presenter was extremely nervous.  You began to feel awkward and embarrassed yourself just watching the speaker in his or her misery.  No one enjoys a presentation when the person speaking is obviously uncomfortable.

Prepare.

That sounds like a no-brainer, but lack of preparation is one of the primary causes of poor presentations.  Lack of preparation can sometimes result from knowing your topic too well.  Because you are so knowledgeable, you think you can just talk about what you know.  However, when you find yourself in front of your audience, you don't have a cohesive message to deliver.  Avoid the temptation to succumb to the deadly "I'll just wing it" mistake.  Careful preparation and rehearsal can do a lot to give you confidence once you step to the front of the room.

Concentrate on the message.

Rather than thinking about how much you hate speaking before a group, focus on how your topic can help the members of your audience.   Passion for your subject is as contagious as the measles, and recognizing the benefits of the knowledge you are communicating can get your mind off yourself and turn your attention to what you are sharing with the audience.

Turn nervousness into energy.

Our bodies are constantly evaluating and responding to the environment, and when we feel threatened, the adrenal glands shift into to high gear, enabling us to run faster, pick up heavier objects, and react more quickly to emergencies.  If you try to ignore this sudden burst of energy, you will experience a number of uncomfortable feelings-including a racing heartbeat and shortness of breath.  Many people compensate by speaking at a rate faster than normal while rapidly shifting their eyes around the room, looking at no one in particular.

Learn to use that extra energy to make your presentation more animated and engaging to the audience.  You can release a huge amount of your nervous energy through your hands. Use gestures to help give your message nonverbal support and to emphasize a point.    Move around if the surroundings allow it.  Take regular deep breaths.  Your increased vigor will have a positive effect on your audience and on you as well. 

Practice, practice, practice.

Many great books on the market can help you learn how to be a more effective speaker, but eventually, like learning to ride a bicycle or swim, you just have to do it.  If speaking really terrifies you, start with no-risk or very low-risk situations.  Don't wait until you have to present a progress report to the CEO. Volunteer to deliver an update in a meeting.  Introduce someone else who is making a presentation.  Deliver a short message about your favorite charity.  Teach something to a group of children.  Every time you stand up in front of a group, well prepared and focused on their needs, you will steadily improve in your effectiveness as a speaker.

Finally, don't worry if you always feel a bit nervous when you stand up to speak.  Almost everyone does.  In reality, a little tension will actually give you an edge and make you sharper. So, instead of banishing the butterflies completely, you can train them to fly in formation.