Here’s a hot take - you should be nervous when you’re about to speak in public!
If you care deeply about the audience, the outcome or your message enough, then it’s natural to feel nervous or anxious. For all of us, there is a level of ‘useful nervousness
The trick is to use the nerves to help you rather than hinder you.
Here are a few tricks to work with your nerves rather than against them!
Step One | Acknowledge them
I chat to my nerves. ‘Hi, ok, we’re a bit apprehensive here, thanks for showing up, I just need a few less of you to be at my best so I’m going to take a few deep breaths so you can chill a bit’
Step Two | Take some deep breaths
The best breathing technique I’ve found for calming nerves is:
Breath in for a count of FOUR
Then hold for SEVEN
Then breath out for EIGHT
Do this three or four times, it’s really quite remarkable what a difference it makes.
Step Three | Work your body
If we are deliberate about it, our nervous system responds to our body positioning. So, a few options here:
Relax your arms and swing them loosely by your sides for a few moments to ‘show’ that you’re relaxed.
Try a power pose - hands on hips, or up in the air, as if you’ve just won a marathon! (Watch THIS TED talk for more on those!)
Nerves can be useful. They just need to be managed.
In my work, I help truly petrified speakers step up onto the stage with confidence and clarity. I’d love to learn what’s holding you back!
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