Perfect Presentation Coaching

I know you don’t always have to get it right.

What the heck does that mean, you don’t always have to get it right?

It means just that; it is OK to sometimes not get it completely correct.

Let me explain a little.

How many times have you had a project where you were so concerned about getting it exactly right that you snapped? I don’t mean that they had to send you to the loony bin, what I mean is that you caused yourself so much stress that the quality of your work actually went down!

Or, even worse, you didn’t get it done at all?

I’ve been there, done that.

I once had to write a paper about blueberries (Yes, blueberries. Don’t ask…) I spent so much time making sure that it was 100% right that I ran out of time and had to turn in my rough draft!

So you see, trying to get it right all the time is sometimes counterproductive.

I don’t mean that you should accept mediocrity.

I don’t mean that leaving mistakes uncorrected is OK.

I don’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to details.

What I do mean is that you should not allow yourself to get bogged down in the pursuit of perfection.

Too many people get so concerned with making it perfect that they don’t even start! How many times have you seen a perfectionist fail because they couldn’t get it exactly right?

Trust me, it is much better to have some mistakes than to have nothing at all!

The important thing, as my coach says is this: “You don’t have to get it right, you just have to get it going!”

Mistakes will happen. Errors will be missed.

But….

Perfection will come. Quality work will happen if you focus your efforts. Don’t force it, just get it done!

I know that all of you are capable (some of you are probably even more capable than I) of creating some fantastic work!

So go get started!

Do you know how to relax?

More specifically, do you know how to relax when you are in front of people?

I know, I know, its hard.

Relax. I can help.

The other day I wrote that you need to relax when you are in front of people. Several readers wrote and said: “That’s nice Mike, but how?”

Fear not! I have some simple things you can do to help you relax.

First, though. You need to realize that you will always feel a little bit of tension. That’s a good thing! Really, it is! A little tension will make you focus! A little tension means you care, if you care you will do what you can to make it work.

Ready to relax?

Let’s start with the obvious; make sure you are as prepared as you possibly can! The more you prepare in advance the less likely it is that you will get flustered before or after you speak. Along these same lines make sure your public appearance is not the first time you have gone through your material, practice, practice, practice! Do not memorize, you need to be able to “go with the flow,” you just need to be so familiar with your material that you can modify if needed.

Another thing you can do to relax is to ignore the fact that you are talking to more than one person. No, no, I don’t mean completely ignore your audience. What I do mean is that you should focus on one or two people at a time. Make it a conversation between you and them, then move on to another person or group. Talking to one person or a small group is a lot easier than talking to a roomful of people.

One more; you have to believe in yourself! Believe that you know your material! Believe that you can speak successfully! Believe that what you have to say has a value to your audience! Sounds simplistic, but it really is true, the power of belief is amazing! I believe you can do it, you should to!

Ok, just one more. Realize that it gets easier the more you do it. If you want to get better you have to take every chance you get to be in front of people! Sign up for an organization like Toastmasters, their whole purpose is to help people get better at public speaking.

I speak in front of people every day and I am still nervous on occasion, I use these things to help me relax, they help me, I know they can help you you as well.

Can you learn from a 12 year old?

Actually what I really mean is; are you willing to learn from a 12 year old?

I bet you’re probably wondering what you can learn about presenting from somebody whose voice hasn’t even changed yet!

As I started thinking about what to write for this message, I sat at my desk and thought about the presentations I had seen from my 7th grade students.

Most of them had one thing in common.

Tension!

Tension?

Yes, tension. Well, not tension like people are angry at each other but rather the tension that comes from nervousness.

12 year olds are not natural public speakers, add to that some nervousness, shake well, and what do you get?

A poor presentation.

So, the lesson from a 12 year old is this.

RELAX!

Sounds simple doesn’t it?

Well it is.

IF!

If: you believe

If: you prepare

If: you practice

I truly believe that you have a great presentation (or 2 or 300) inside of you.

Think back to a time when your own tension caused you to do worse than you know you were capable of.

Now imagine yourself in the same situation but relaxed instead of nervous.

I bet you see yourself doing better.

That is what I’m talking about.

Success in presenting (and life, for that matter) is not really all that hard.

Sometimes all it takes to bring it out is one simple word.

So, take a deep breath and relax. I know you can do it!