Speaking infront of people is terrifying. 10 quickfire tips to make it easier

Have you ever noticed that when you're nervous, your voice goes up an octave and sounds like a cartoon character? You feel self-conscious about the way you look or sound, and it's hard to focus on what you want to say. This makes giving presentations even more difficult because now your audience can't hear or understand what you're saying! Plus, if they do catch something interesting from one of your slides, they'll likely forget it by the time they get back to their desks.

You know that you're capable of doing great work, but when it comes time to present in front of your boss or client, your confidence gets the best of you.

The stakes are high and this is a big opportunity for you to show what you can do. But before long, your nerves start getting the better of you and all those negative thoughts start creeping into your head.

The good news is that there are things you can do to help you be more confident when presenting in front of an audience.

Here’s 10 super quick tips. Print this list off and keep it somewhere handy as a reminder.

1. Practice deep breathing before an event to lower your heart rate and reduce anxiety

2. Drink a glass of water to help you feel less nervous

3. Visualize yourself succeeding in the situation that is making you anxious

4. Relax your muscles by loosening them up, or stretching them out

5. Try to think about something that makes you feel happy - it could be anything from an event in the past to just imagining yourself at the beach on a sunny day

6. Talk to someone who is supportive of you - this could be a friend, family member, or even a counselor/therapist

7. Use an app to help you calm down - Be Calm delivers relaxing sounds and music that can help you relax and stay focused in the moment. The app is free for download on iOS and Android devices so everyone can enjoy its benefits without having to spend money.

8. Practice practice practice - This particular solution is simple - you need to practice your presentation and get comfortable with the material before you present it. We can sometimes priortise preparing what we are going to say in our heads without ever actually verbalising it out. Say it out loud, get familiar with the words.

9. Keep an open posture - don't cross your arms over your chest or fold them across you stomach

10. Be passionate about what you're talking about! If it's not something that you care deeply about then find another topic

If you're interested in being a better presenter, we'd love to help. Subscribe and get access to our monthly newsletter packed with tips on how to be an effective speaker as well as other helpful resources such as presentations templates and more!