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Think clearly » Speak with certainty » Sell ideas » Lead effectively
Speak with Certainty (control nerves and maintain poise) 
Can you stay relaxed and think clearly when you're talking and all eyes are on you?
Speaking in public could be described as the 'mother of all fears' because it encompasses fears of failure, embarrassment, losing control, being judged, showing weakness, exposing ignorance and disappointing others or ourselves. Gee, it's exhausting just writing these down.
The ability to feel certain and speak with confidence during a meeting or presentation underpins your success.
The first question is: Why do we get nervous?
Nerves are normal. We all feel some anxiety when the outcome of an event - such as a business presentation - is uncertain. We want it to go well and our mind craves some certainty that it will. But as the future is uncertain, it is left wanting.
This works on a sliding scale. If, for example, you feel fully prepared for the presentation and are familiar with the people, subject and venue, the anxiety will likely be mild. If however, the subject, audience and venue are unfamiliar to you, the uncertainty will be greater and your your anxiety will increase as a result. Some people experience a mild buzz while others feel like their mind/body is out of control.
Our mind rates the event as 'important' partly based on this 'uncertainty gap'. The bigger the gap, the higher the rating of 'important event' in the mind. Add to this the body's primitive 'flight or fight' survival mechanism - whenever we feel threatened or exposed (such as in the penetrating 'spotlight' of a business presentation), the body releases adrenaline in order to give us energy. Unfortunately, this primitive part of our brain can give us more energy than we need - energy that is channelled into the physical symptoms of anxiety.
The resulting physical symptoms can take many forms - feeling sick, shaking, a quivering voice, sleepless nights, a dry mouth, blushing, and more - but they all come from the same source: anxiety is directly linked to the amount of uncertainty we feel.
The next question is: How to control nerves
We can control nerves by reducing the uncertainty that creates anxiety. There are many ways to do this. Most people will find one or two methods that work best for them. Methods include:
- Finding mental triggers to focus our mind on concrete things rather than dwelling in anxiety.
- Using physical triggers to redirect our energy/attention.
- Using tools to think clearly.
- Receiving expert feedback and personal coaching to feel certain about what is really important.
- Other methods to accessing feelings of control and alertness.
One mental trigger: The Message Priority
You can reduce nervousness by gaining certainty about your purpose and/or your message for the event. Most business presentations have a fraction of their potential impact because the speaker is too self conscious or focused on things like body language, PowerPoint slides, gestures, etc. This is a mechanical approach or Performance Priority.
The key measure of your success is: Did they get your message? Whether you are talking to the media, speaking to five hundred people or having a sales conversation with one person, a message priority gives you a clear direction. It helps you feel comfortable by accommodating your natural style and creates a feeling of purpose.
Speakers are always more effective when they feel natural and look believable. With your certainty built on clarity of message and natural style, delivery elements such as the tone, inflection and emphasis of your voice start to flow naturally. People with clarity and certainty always influence others.
You are ok. The power of a natural style
The most compelling thing a person can do when speaking in front of a group is to be real. It inspires trust and attracts people to us.
Think about it: Bill Clinton is charming and has a lovely voice while John Howard says 'uhm' and has a high pitched voice. Both are effective, successful speakers. Richard Branson is on record as saying he's never felt comfortable speaking in public yet his bumbling words get the message across.
You will develop credible skills as a speaker by building your own unique, natural style.
Consider these Vivid options:
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