Managing Nervousness Before Your Presentation

Imagine yourself in class and your prof says “you have to do a presentation”.

Are you filled with worry, stress, and dread?

Presentations can be stressful, but we have five tips to help you tackle nervousness before your presentation and present like a pro!

Tip 1: Try to start planning your presentation early.

By starting early, and not the night before, you will have more time to learn the content and become comfortable with it.

Tip 2: Visit the presentation space before you present. 

Pay special attention to things like: where the screen is, where people are sitting, and the different kinds of technology in the room. This is especially important if you are presenting in a room you’ve never seen before.

Tip 3: plan when you will look up at your audience.

This will help you to feel more prepared, as you will know ahead of time when you will look at your audience, and when you will look away.

Tip 4: Find your audience cheerleader

This is the person in your audience who is nodding along with you, smiling, and seems genuinely interested in what you are talking about. Looking at this person every so often can help give you a confidence boost, and make you feel calmer.

Tip 5: Practice! Try practicing your presentation in front of friends, family members or even your pets. This will help you become more confident with the content and you’ll get an idea of how long your presentation will be.

Try some of these tips before your next presentation, and present like a pro!

Remember: it’s probably best to try only one or two tips at a time, so you don’t become overwhelmed.

If you want more tips or practice feel free to book an appointment at the library; they can help you strengthen your presentation and provide feedback.

For more tips, check out our Dealing with Nervousness During Your Presentation video!

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