5 Tricks to Manage Your Nerves Before a Public Speaking Event

Author: Alina Aronova, Founder of Almax Executive Advisory and “Go to Executive Coach for High Achievers”

As seasoned executives we feel pressure to always appear confident, polished, and on the top of our game. We are expected to be clear, concise, and inspirational at the same time. We can never show any hesitation, nervousness, or even shyness. Those are perceived as signs of weakness, especially in our own minds.

However, the reality is often different. The common saying “it is lonely at the top” is very true. We rarely allow ourselves a moment of vulnerability to show that we can be nervous before a presentation like anyone else. We have come too far in our careers to show any sign of weakness, right?

This article will teach you 5 key tricks to manage your fear, discomfort, and anxiety as you prepare for your next speaking opportunity.

Trick #1 - Preparation makes perfect I completely understand that this is not a unique or a revolutionary thought but by making a conscious choice to put effort into preparation before each speaking event you take control. For us, the overachievers, taking control of our situations, is half the battle. I would strongly encourage you to find a format that works best for you. Some ideas could be: · writing down and reading out loud your speech word for word multiple times · creating an outline or key points · writing index cards or collecting pictures that serve as memory triggers · speaking to yourself or finding a trusted audience to practice with · practicing in the same position (sitting, standing, walking) as you would during the event What you do by following this trick is create muscle memory and a familiar environment for yourself. This is also an opportunity to lean into your overachiever tendencies. If you trust your training and the effort you put into it in, the moment when it is time to perform you will!!

“It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.”– Mark Twain

Trick #2 - Decide on a safe "starter" word

Even after all this preparation, when you find yourself seconds before you need to go on stage, you will feel that you have forgotten everything you were supposed to speak about including the title of your speech.

The best way to exit this feeling is to start with your “starter” word or a phrase. It can be as simple as “Hello” or an ice breaker you decided to use. The point is to decide what word you will use early on and use it every time you practice. It works like magic. Your muscle memory will kick in as it does for elite athletes during their critical competitions.

What's important is to pick a word that makes sense and is not out of context for your situation so no one will even know that you used this trick to ease your nerves. It will feel like a natural beginning of your speech to the audience.

“90% of how well the talk will go is determined before the speaker steps on the platform.” – Somers White

Trick #3 – Location, location, location Look for ways to do the last couple of dry-runs in the same environment you will deliver your speech. The last speech I delivered was at a major conference in Orlando. I arrived a day early, found a conference room I was supposed to speak at, and practiced there on my own. Later, when the stage was built, cameras and lights were set up I volunteered to be a tester. I wanted to practice my speech one more time with the lights, the background, my stage movement, my slides on a large screen, the works…. If you are preparing for a virtual presentation, you can do something as simple as turn on your Zoom or Teams application and do a dry-run even without anyone else on the call. You will familiarize yourself with that feeling of being on a camera while you feel extra nervousness.

Trick #4 – Eye contact This trick is exactly what it sounds like. When you start to feel that the wave of nervousness is coming on again find someone in the audience who is showing you signs of encouragement. It can be as simple as someone nodding, smiling, or showing signs of paying attention and following along. Find someone you can actually see well so it is not only a silhouette for you. I understand that sometimes it may not be easy to find someone but in a high-stakes situation, you could create your own arrangements. Ask someone you know to sit close to the stage and give you that extra booster of support when you need it. No one needs to know what arrangements you are making to set yourself up for success.

Trick #5 – Pause is not your enemy

The final trick is something I have recently learned to appreciate. While I was always scared of pauses because, in my mind, they showed my panic, the reality is quite different. It is not a sign of panic if you pause but a sign of control. If you trust me on this and let go of your preconceived notions about pauses, you will be seen by your audience as a confident and thoughtful speaker.

Pauses also have a secret power of letting you catch your breath and collect your thoughts for the next point. I can understand now why some speakers take a sip of water and how helpful that is for a speaker. This is a totally natural act, so it does not have any negative effect on the audience. So next time you find yourself on a stage on a Zoom call speaking to the audience lean into the magic of pauses.

“The most precious things in speech are the... pauses.”– Sir Ralph Richardson

Please share your own ideas and tricks on how to overcome stage fright. If you enjoyed this article and would like to learn more go to our website.

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Alina Aronova, Founder of Almax Executive Advisory and “ The Go-to Executive Coach for High Achievers”