How do you overcome group presentation anxiety?
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Group presentations can be a daunting task for many people, especially if you struggle with public speaking anxiety. However, there are some strategies that can help you overcome your fears and deliver a successful presentation with your team. In this article, you will learn how to prepare, practice, communicate, support, relax, and cope with group presentation anxiety.
Prepare well
One of the best ways to reduce group presentation anxiety is to prepare well in advance. This means that you should know your topic, your role, your audience, and your goals. You should also coordinate with your team members and divide the tasks and responsibilities clearly. Make sure that you have a clear outline, a strong introduction and conclusion, and a coherent transition between speakers. Preparing well will boost your confidence and reduce the chances of making mistakes or forgetting important points.
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In my speaking, I’ve found one thing to be true. Presence is key. Our presence in the moment, accomplished through mindfulness breathing or other techniques. The other presence is related to being connected with your audience. What I do is arrive early, always. I speak to the guests as they arrive, I ask their name and find out what interests them about the talk. They become my “eye contact anchors” when I begin. They tend to smile and show more interest because I built rapport. Also because I’ve learned their name and what excites them, I can reference that information, to deepen connection.
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Remember that the audience is always on your side - and that's not just because they're nice. It's because it serves them if you do well - they would have made a good investment of their time in listening to you. So start with that mindset - of being appreciated vs judged.
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Practice together
Another key strategy to overcome group presentation anxiety is to practice together as a group. This will help you to polish your delivery, improve your timing, and get feedback from your peers. You should also practice in front of a mirror, a recorder, or a friend to get used to your voice, gestures, and posture. Practicing together will also help you to build rapport and trust with your team members and to anticipate and resolve any potential issues or conflicts.
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Depending on the type of group presentation you can assign turns. I did this in both of my academic presentations, and it made it a lot easier for all of us to present our research in full.
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Know your lead-in and lead-out lines if you are between other speakers. Nothing is less inspiring than, "now l'll turn it over to Sam." Instead, Sam's last line should seamlessly transition into your first line. This maintains audience attention and keeps you on time. Likewise, your last line should set up the next speaker unless you are last to speak.
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Communicate effectively
Communication is essential for a successful group presentation, both before and during the event. You should communicate with your team members regularly and respectfully, and share your ideas, concerns, and expectations. You should also communicate with your audience effectively, and use eye contact, vocal variety, and body language to engage them and convey your message. Communication will help you to avoid misunderstandings, confusion, and boredom, and to create a positive impression and connection.
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My #1 piece of advice for the journalists and editors I work with is "write shorter sentences", and this is key in group presentations too. Don't burden anyone in your group with a slide filled with detailed bullet points! Just 1-2 ideas per slide, and 4-5 slides per person before you switch, is a rhythm that often works really effectively.
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Talk about anything but nerves!! Say how excited you are instead. Energy transfers, so remember whatever you say will be amplified.
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Support each other
Group presentation anxiety can be alleviated by supporting each other as a team. You should show respect, appreciation, and encouragement to your team members, and acknowledge their contributions and strengths. You should also help each other if someone is struggling, nervous, or stuck, and offer assistance, feedback, or reassurance. Supporting each other will help you to feel more confident, comfortable, and motivated, and to create a sense of unity and collaboration.
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Similarly to my last contribution, remember that energy transfers, and whatever you decided to share will amplify. Treat people how you wish to be treated.
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Another thing that can help here is to react in the way you want your audience to. If your coworker tells a joke, smile. If they’re trying to direct attention to a slide, look at it. It will be a signal to the audience to do the same. Oftentimes we forget this because we’ve seen the slides or heard the points 100x before. But like others have said here- if you’re engaged, that energy will transfer.
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Relax before and during
Relaxation is another important strategy to overcome group presentation anxiety. You should relax before the presentation by doing some breathing exercises, stretching, or meditation. You should also relax during the presentation by taking deep breaths, smiling, and using humor. Relaxation will help you to calm your nerves, reduce your stress, and improve your mood and performance.
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Don’t forget to breathe—it might sound simple, but can be very difficult on stage when the adrenaline is pumping! Planning intentional pauses pauses at key points throughout your presentation will give you space to breathe, keep your pace in check, and help communicate your message to the audience. Keep in mind that this doesn’t come naturally to most people, so try to be yourself and act natural (as if you’re talking to friends or colleagues).
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Calm your nervous system directly by shaking out your arms and legs vigorously for a minute. This moves the stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) into the bloodstream to be removed by the liver. Reducing these hormones will calm your nervous system directly, and then the deep breathing techniques will be at their most effective to calm you further. You can nip into a bathroom stall to keep it private!
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Cope after
Finally, you should cope after the presentation by reflecting on your experience, celebrating your achievements, and learning from your mistakes. You should also seek feedback from your team members, your audience, or your instructor, and use it to improve your skills and confidence. You should also reward yourself and your team for your hard work and effort, and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. Coping after will help you to grow as a speaker, a team player, and a learner.
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Preparation is key to presenting an effective and successful presentation. Collect your facts Know your stuff Organize your thoughts Prepare engaging visual effects Posture, Poise, and Clarity in delivering the material (and a little humor doesn't hurt when appropriate). A nice smile for the crowd breaks the ice and eases the nerves.
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Always debrief. Talk as a group and point out areas where you made great success and also those where you (and others on the team) can improve. It's always possible to make your presentation better and more relevant for your audiences.
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Here’s what else to consider
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?
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Key Takeaways: Prepare and practice with your fellow presenters, during the presentation remain calm (no one in the audience is looking for perfection. They just want answers to your topic.), finally celebrate your achievements. That's pretty easy right!
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It's not always easy, I have had presentations that have felt like a breeze and others where my heart is beating out of my chest and I can hardly get a word out. Whatever the outcome take it easy on yourself, you just wanted to do a good job and you tried to do that. 9 times out of 10 with anxiety and nerves I have found although you feel it and you notice it, the people watching and listening to you probably haven't even noticed! Honestly! Learn, grow, move on to the next one - it's only a short moment in time
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