Most people believe that if you write out a presentation word-for-word and memorize it, you'll be less nervous and you'll have less stage fright. In fact, what a lot of people do with today's technology is to create a PowerPoint presentation that has all of the details of what they are speaking about on their slides so that they don't forget anything. However, writing out your entire presentation and either memorizing it or using notes (especially PowerPoint Presentations) are two ways to make you extremely nervous.
One of the first tips that we give to participants who go through Fearless Presentations® or the Public Speaking Secrets® program is to Get Rid of Your Notes. Most people believe that having notes in front of you will help you speak more confidently or help you remember all of the fantastic details that your audience really wants to hear. Both of these conclusions are false. In fact, making notes either on paper or in your PowerPoint slideshow is one of the fastest ways to make you more nervous!
Here's what happens. When you design a presentation that has too much data, all of those points can get confusing and difficult to deliver. You are also likely to sound boring and have a difficult time connecting with the audience. When all of those things happen at one time, nervousness will shoot through the roof.
So, what can you do about it? First, change the way that you design your presentations. Most people sit down with paper or PowerPoint and begin to catalogue everything that they know about the subject. Next, we alter the slides or notes by cutting out all the stuff that doesn't fit the particular time frame. The less time that we have to speak, the more that we cut. What happens when we use this technique is that we end up with a Swiss cheese presentation that is difficult to remember and more difficult to deliver.
Instead, start with just a few key points to cover and add stories, examples, analogies, and other proof of your key points instead of just adding more data.
Now when you speak, you only have to remember a few key points. Everything else in your presentation is just evidence of your previous statements. If you forget a little of your evidence, no big deal, because you will have still been able to prove the point. Also, no one really knew exactly what you were going to say anyway. However, if you are delivering a long list of data points and you forget something, everyone will know.
Design your presentations a little differently, and you'll be able to reduce your nervousness and not have to refer to notes!
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Doug Staneart is a keynote speaker in Dallas, Texas and the President and CEO of The Leader's Institute. He is also author of the best-selling books
Fearless Presentations and 28 Ways to Influence People and Gain Buy-In. Free video tips are available on his website.
