Friday, March 24, 2006
Checklist for Preparation and Anxiety Reduction:
- Be prepared. You know that you have at least five minutes before you go into a meeting or make a call. Put bullets on a page and a few words and (not full sentences) of what you plan to speak on. This way you will not leave anything out.
- Before an important talk, rehearse aloud with your notes. Only reading notes or mumbling through them is not real rehearsal. Use the same voice, eye contact, movements and visuals that you will use in the real meeting. It is best to practice in the real room you will use, or at least imagine it. The goal is to become familiar with your material and your delivery.
- Get enough to sleep and eat real, not junk, food. Avoid caffeine, drugs, tranquilizers and alcohol since these stay in your body and counteract your normal skills. They are not helpful, no matter how much you may think so. You can control yourself without self-medicating.
- Take a walk to release some energy and give yourself a reality talk.
- "I am going to do well and when I make mistakes, I'll fix them. If I lose my place, I'll repeat what I just said"
- "Just a moment' as I look at my notes. I will appear relaxed as I find my place. I have spoken in front of others before and I can do it again. I know what I am talking about. When I don't know, I'll find out for them."
- Write notes in a large font so you can push them a little forward on the table and not have to look so far down to get your cues. If you must hold them, put them on heavy paper, look at them and hold them to your side as you speak, gesturing with the free hand.
- Use your final set of notes for your rehearsal to become familiar with them. Use multiple sheets of paper with your visuals on them, note cards or PowerPoint speaker's notes on the laptop screen. Make them simple to be really useful.
- Anticipate questions and practice aloud the answers you might use. Ask co-workers for suggestions.
- Before speaking, look at pictures of your children, grandchildren or dog to help relax you and to remember that your life is more than this one presentation.
