This document provides tips for handling presentation anxiety. It discusses why public speaking is important but causes anxiety for 85% of people. Symptoms of anxiety include increased heart rate and perspiration. Preparation is key and includes knowing your material well, outlining instead of scripting, and practicing with a warm audience. On the day, techniques to reduce anxiety involve deep breathing, addressing symptoms, and remembering anxiety can aid performance. Seeking peer coaching and giving practice presentations can also help build confidence.

1. How to Handle
Presentation Anxiety

2.  Why Public Speaking is Important
 Why We Tend to Avoid It
 The Symptoms of Presentational Anxiety
 How to Deal With The Symptoms
 The Self-Coaching Approach
 Getting Practice to Get It Right
 Peer-coaching for Public Speakers

3. The opportunity to speak in public introduces the
world to us and us to the world
 Gain greater knowledge of self
 Higher grades
 Courage to face challenges (like no other)
 Promotions and advancements
 Entrepreneurship opportunities

4. About 85 % of the general population is afraid to
stand up and be recognised/heard
o Being under scrutiny of many eyes all at once
o Doubts about voice/knowledge/appearance
o Fear of ridicule/rejection
o Prior classroom experience with peer/teacher
reactions
o Notions about personality/inherent
ability/trainability

5. Stage fright, also known as glossophobia, is
placed even before death as the greatest fear for
one out of three people.
The body actually reacts as it would in any “fight
or flight” situation.
Therefore, all of the instinctive physiological
reactions to perceived threats come into play:

6. The instinctive physiological reactions to
perceived threats that impede the speaker
(internal):
 adrenaline/epinephrine released into the
bloodstream
 accelerated heart rate
 an increase in blood pressure
 irregular breathing patterns

7. The instinctive physiological reactions to
perceived threats that impede the speaker
(visible):
 perspiration
 uncontrollable shaking/shivers
 flushing of the face
 dry mouth
 the desire to fidget with objects
 weakening of the voice (resulting in
stammering/stuttering)

8. The emotional impact of perceived threat or fear
is what causes the physiological symptoms of
stage fright to occur in the first place:
 visualises the self as vulnerable
 questions ability
 sees all others as judgemental
 engages in negative self talk
 self-torments with worst-case scenario images
 short-term memory loss

9. For anyone who fears speaking in public, there
are preparatory measures that really help:
Know your material.
 thorough understanding of the topic
 conveys to the audience interest and passion
 immersion in the topic shifts focus from self to
the subject of the presentation
 restores sense of purpose/importance

10. For anyone who fears speaking in public, there
are preparatory measures that really help:
Prepare Outlines, Not Speeches
 Avoid seeming unprepared
 Full introduction for initial part of presentation
 Use symbols for key points.
 Write out transitional/segue sentences in full
 Salient points/quotes for body
 Full closure for summative purposes

11. For anyone who fears speaking in public, there
are preparatory measures that really help:
Use a Warm-up Audience
 Practise with any willing listeners who can
coach you before the presentation.
 Start with warm/small groups to increase
comfort level
 More practice/less anxiety
 Enough knowledge of presentation to
review flaws/strengths objectively

12. For anyone who fears speaking in public, there
are preparatory measures that really help:
Attend Public Speaking Events
 Helps visualise and understand techniques
 Observe body language, speech patterns
and audience interactions of all (good and
bad)
 Approach the speakers if possible for tips

13. For anyone who fears speaking in public, there
are preparatory measures that really help:
Visualise Yourself as a Success
 Ask permission to check the venue beforehand
 Imagine yourself as your favourite orator
 View the audience as people needing you
 Practice mistakes you have observed
 Nurture the positive images

14. Even with thorough preparation, there are anxiety –
reduction techniques that can help:
Breathe
 Take long, deep breaths - hold them in for five
seconds
 Do neck rolls and massages to relax tight muscles
 Take a walk to burn off some of the anxious energy
 Breathe during your speech to help with speech
pacing/concentration

15. Even with thorough preparation, there are anxiety
–reduction techniques that can help:
Address Each Symptom of Speech Anxiety
 Excessive perspiration – dark clothing
 Dry mouth – small sips of water
 Nervousness – avoid caffeine/use herbal tea
 Clammy hands – holding small prop for speech
 Weak/quivery voice – pause, then smile

16. Even with thorough preparation, there are anxiety
–reduction techniques that can help:
Don't Apologize For Being Nervous
 Could bring unnecessary attention to anxiety
 Overcome the ‘Illusion of Transparency’
 Audience will focus on the wrong thing
 Commiserating audience hopes for your
success
Did “W” ever apologise for being silly?

17. Even with thorough preparation, there are anxiety
–reduction techniques that can help:
Remember Anxiety Can Aid the ‘Fight’ Instead
of the ‘Flight’ Response
 Energy to perform well
 Heightened awareness to sharpen focus
 Adrenaline rush increases concentration levels
 Facing one’s fears produce a natural high

18. Short of seeking a therapist’s help, you can
prepare yourself for entering the field.
Undertake your own course in addressing an
audience:
 reverse negative self-talk
 reassure the inner child
 give motivational talks to yourself in the mirror

19. Once you are comfortable with your own quirks
and unique qualities as a speaker:
 audio/video tape yourself practising with
famous speeches
 view these with helpful group to discuss voice
modulation/level of credibility/eye contact
issues
 play the tape for young children – the ‘best’
critics

20. Select your partner in crime carefully, someone
who will:
 practice the warm receptive audience routine
 go through the shadow speaker routine
 help with research and positive messages
 coach and massage the body/ego on the day
 give presentations a fresh perspective
 take this as seriously as you do

21.  Practice self-coaching techniques
 Go through relaxation techniques
 Try exercises in peer coaching and
evaluation