Why Cant People Give Presentations?
Most people find it difficult to speak in front of a group. Giving a presentation is one way that many people can be put on the spot and asked to speak publicly, which is why so many people dread this type of situation. Presentations are an important part of work-life, but they don't have to be as painful as most think!
In this article, we will discuss why some find giving presentations difficult and then offer 7 ways that you can become more comfortable when giving presentations in the future.
Let's consider 2 reasons why people find it difficult to present:
1. Fear of Public Speaking
The major reason why people find it difficult to present to a group of people is due to Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking. In fact, a study by Dovepress indicated that 77% of people suffer anxiety from public speaking.
Giving a presentation is difficult because it puts you in the spotlight and makes you feel vulnerable. Giving presentations means standing up in front of an audience, often including your boss or colleagues, which can be terrifying when we perceive they are watching closely to see how good (or bad) you are at delivery presentations.
People don’t like speaking publicly because they fear that their body language will give away their nervousness and apprehension and undermine all their efforts to appear confident and credible. Giving a presentation can also feel like you are on trial and anything you do could lead to failure.
2. Lack of Proper Preparation
It is extremely difficult to present for your peers, your boss, or senior executives if you are not "properly" prepared. Sure you may have your Powerpoint or Google Slides handy, but that doesn't necessarily mean you are properly prepared.
Many speakers fail to craft a proper premise for their presentation nor consider the needs of their audience members. Most people forget to ask themselves these key questions in preparation:
- What is the intent of my speech? (To inform? To motivate?)
- What will grab the attention of my audience from the start? (A story? A startling statement?)
- How can I establish credibility? (Why are you qualified to speak on the topic?)
As a result, poor preparation leads to poor performance. Mildly speaking, a poor presentation performance will make the majority of people hesitant to give presentations again and again, as the bad memories of past events will stay at the top of their minds.
7 Ways You Can Be Comfortable Giving Presentations.
- Prepare, prepare, prepare! The more you know about your topic and the better you are prepared, the less anxious you will feel. Make sure to practice your talk out loud so that you become comfortable with the material.
- Try to relax and take some deep breaths before going on stage.
- Make eye contact with members of the audience as much as possible – it helps to create a connection with them and makes you appear more confident.
- Use positive body language, such as standing up straight and keeping your arms uncrossed. This will make you look more authoritative and credible.
- If possible, try to speak in front of the same audience on several different occasions. This will help you get used to being watched and "judged" by them, which should reduce your level of anxiety each time.
- Try not to be too hard on yourself if things don’t go so well during one presentation – everyone has bad days! Just try again next time.
- Take advantage of any training opportunities that are available at work or online for giving presentations. VirtualSpeech is a great online platform that allows you to practice public speaking in a real-feel virtual environment. Giving presentations is an important skill that everyone should have, but only if they feel comfortable doing it.
That's why these seven ways to become more comfortable in giving presentations, are helpful because people who find themselves unable to speak up when facing groups might end up suffering from stress, or even worse their career growth might halt. Giving presentations is an essential skill in the professional world, so don’t be afraid to face your fear and speak up confidently!
Present Confidently Today!
So there you have it – seven tips for becoming more comfortable in giving presentations. Just remember that practice makes perfect, so keep rehearsing until you feel confident enough to stand up on stage without feeling nervous.
For more resources to develop your public speaking skills while you are in the comforts of your own home, please check the articles Online Resources for Public Speaking and Where Can I Learn Public Speaking. If you would like to leverage the best presentation software for your next big speaking engagement please read the article 'Best Presentation Technology tools'.
