Presentations in front of superiors and co-workers can be one of the scary things for employees, especially for those of you fresh graduates who are unfamiliar or even afraid to speak in public. However, it turns out that the feeling of nervousness or fear of speaking in public, fear of failure, fear of being ridiculed is felt by many people.
However, if we only obey our fears, it will actually become a barrier for us to make presentations in public. Therefore, if you experience this, there are several ways to overcome nervousness when presenting for the first time. Here's the explanation!
1. Prepare Presentation Materials Carefully
Preparing presentation materials well in advance of the D-Day is one way you can do to avoid being nervous. Don't delay in preparing presentation materials and files that will be given to colleagues during the meeting. Because you will be overwhelmed if you prepare too tight.
By preparing everything before making a presentation will help you become more confident and calmer about the presentation you are doing.
2. Practice Presentation Material
After carefully preparing the material, you should practice your presentation skills before doing it in public or in front of coworkers. You can start practicing in front of a mirror.
Or you can also practice by recording it. Not only that, you can also practice with your closest colleagues. With it, you can feel more comfortable when speaking and your confidence will increase. Focus on the content that you will convey to the audience. Practice until you are fluent, so that your self-confidence can make you less nervous.
3. Think Positive
When you have prepared the material and rehearsed the presentation well, your confidence will increase, but it doesn't guarantee that the nervousness will be 100% gone. Sometimes we are ready, suddenly the audience comes, suddenly a feeling of nervousness arises.
Well, it usually happens because of negative thoughts in our minds. If you experience this, you must immediately shift your mind to something positive.
Think that the material you will convey can run well and can be understood. Positive thinking can make you less anxious and nervous.
4. Don't Overthink About Reaction From Audience
This will definitely happen when you are presenting in public for the first time or in front of people you just met. However, you should not think too much about what will happen while presenting, because this can make you become unfocused with what you are going to convey.
Instead of overthinking it's not clear, you better use your energy and mind to make you more confident. You also don't need to look perfect and don't compare yourself to other speakers or colleagues who have made presentations many times. Just focus on yourself and do your best.
5. Appreciate Your Effort
Fear will always come your way, but you have to appreciate your efforts and convince yourself that you did your best. With it, your nervousness when presenting will fade and will become your strength to try your best.
Those are some ways you can do to get rid of nervousness when presenting in public for the first time. You don't need to worry, nervousness can be controlled depending on what you have prepared carefully and keep positive thinking so that self-confidence increases. It's easy for the smooth presentation tips above, I hope your presentation can run smoothly!