How do you overcome anxiety when presenting data?
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— The LinkedIn Team
Presenting data can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you are not confident in your skills, your audience, or your message. You might worry about making mistakes, boring your listeners, or facing criticism. However, you can overcome anxiety when presenting data by following some simple tips that will help you prepare, practice, and perform better.
Know your data
The first step to overcome anxiety when presenting data is to know your data inside out. You should be familiar with the sources, methods, and assumptions behind your analysis, as well as the main findings, implications, and limitations. You should also be able to explain your data in simple and clear terms, using appropriate charts, tables, and visuals. Knowing your data will give you more confidence and credibility, and help you anticipate and answer questions.
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Once you have done these, remember that you know your data the most amongst the audience. You are the expert about the data, how it was recorded, what it means, etc. Those in the room are there to learn from you and not to discount your work.
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It is very likely as an analyst that your end-user actually knows the impact of the data better than you do - and that's okay! If you are presenting an analysis on marketing data to the CMO who has been at the company for 8 years, they are going to know all of the ins and outs. As an analyst, it is your job to analyze the data and present it back to them so that they can use it to make decisions. You can take comfort in knowing that actually, they are the expert. You are the analyst. If you are following an iterative process for your analysis, then when you are presenting it is either A- with the intention of it being a "draft" or B- something you have studied and iterated on many times and are very familiar with to get to this point.
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Know your audience
The second step to overcome anxiety when presenting data is to know your audience and tailor your presentation to their needs, interests, and expectations. You should research your audience's background, level of expertise, and goals, and adjust your tone, language, and content accordingly. You should also consider what they want to learn from your presentation, what questions they might have, and how you can engage them. Knowing your audience will help you connect with them and deliver a relevant and valuable message.
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Although in a larger context it might be sometimes difficult to gather so much information about the audience. In such cases you can gauge their depth of understanding through few questions, or taking a pause to let things sink in and see the kind of questions they ask you. Keeping the presentation interactive at all times also helps one to adjust the flow and structure to better suit the audience while also enabling one to express everything about the data in the right sequence and at the right time
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Knowing why is your audience is listening to you is key. What information are they specifically interested in and how can you provide that information to them. I present in "chapters", and at the end of each chapter I have an 1-slide overview that includes actionable takeaways. I want to make sure that I'm talking to (not at) the audience. My slides and speaking points need to be relatable to their own personal situation.
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Know your purpose
The third step to overcome anxiety when presenting data is to know your purpose and structure your presentation accordingly. You should have a clear and concise main point that summarizes your data and its significance, and support it with evidence, examples, and arguments. You should also have a logical and coherent flow that guides your audience through your data, using transitions, signposts, and summaries. You should also have a strong introduction that captures attention and sets the context, and a strong conclusion that reinforces your main point and calls for action. Knowing your purpose will help you focus and organize your presentation.
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When you know the purpose of the presentation, you might lead the audience to the points you want to. Those ones make you feel confident and strong to stick on and to answer potential questions in more details. Depending, of course, on the audience most of the participants do not follow all the presentation elements. So, a benefit outcome of the data analysis will ensure them the required results.
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Without purpose, there is no point in a presentation. Have a strong focus along with the "Why?" behind everything. Your audience needs to feel confident and informed about your work.
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Practice your presentation
The fourth step to overcome anxiety when presenting data is to practice your presentation as much as possible. You should rehearse your presentation out loud, preferably in front of a mirror, a camera, or a friend. You should also time yourself, check your slides, and test your equipment. You should also practice your body language, eye contact, voice, and gestures, and try to avoid filler words, jargon, and distractions. Practicing your presentation will help you improve your skills, identify and fix problems, and boost your confidence.
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Practice yourself in front of a mirror or record your voice as you’re presenting. You can also present to a colleague of you who perhaps will advise you afterwards
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Sometimes, things go differently than planned. A slide might malfunction, or a question might throw you off. This happens to seasoned experts as well. Regular practice equips you to handle such unexpected situations with grace. While the content of a presentation is undeniably crucial, the delivery can make or break its impact. By dedicating time to practice, you're not just preparing to present. You're preparing to captivate, inspire, and leave a lasting impression on your audience.
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Relax before and during your presentation
The fifth step to overcome anxiety when presenting data is to relax before and during your presentation. You should try to reduce stress and calm your nerves by doing some breathing exercises, meditation, or positive affirmations. You should also prepare yourself mentally and emotionally by visualizing a successful outcome, reminding yourself of your strengths, and accepting your imperfections. You should also try to enjoy your presentation, smile, and have fun. Relaxing before and during your presentation will help you cope with anxiety, overcome fear, and perform better.
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One thing I've found helpful, depending on the context of the presentation, is to insert a little bit of humor into the beginning of the presentation. Getting a laugh out of the audience helps me relax and have fun.
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Before any type of public speaking, it can be helpful to develop a quick routine that will ground you in the moment and calm your nerves. My preferred routine is: -10 deep belly breaths -A tongue twister to warm up your month and vocal chords -An affirmation or prayer -10 more deep belly breaths You don't need to follow this one, but come up with your own! Keep it simple though so no matter what you can always find time to do it. It's also helpful to have a really fast shortened version of your routine that doesn't take longer than 1 minute for those surprise presentations. You'll always be ready!
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Seek feedback and learn from your experience
The sixth and final step to overcome anxiety when presenting data is to seek feedback and learn from your experience. You should ask for constructive and honest feedback from your audience, your peers, or your mentors, and use it to improve your presentation skills. You should also reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, your achievements and challenges, and your lessons and insights. You should also celebrate your success, reward yourself, and be proud of yourself. Seeking feedback and learning from your experience will help you grow and develop as a data analyst and a presenter.
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In my experience, perfection and mastery are both journeys, not destinations. We can always learn from others and asking them for feedback on our presentation will help improve our weaker areas while boosting confidence for the next one
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It's okay to make mistakes. You may experience panic, nervous, hand shaking or voice trembling during your first presentation. Don't worry - you'll become a better presenter after your fifth attempt. What matters is you have delivered the presentation as planned and sought feedback to discover what's missing. You could utilize the comments received as constructive feedbacks for your improvement in personal skills; such as communication, presentation and storytelling.
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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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You would like to engage your audience. Hence, keep something for them to find out. Meaning, do not share everything on the slide or in your speech. Wait for the audience to ask you that question and then applaud her/him for finding the missing piece of the puzzle and answer. If no one asks this, you share it yourself at the end of the presentation.
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Storytelling is the secret ingredient that transforms data into a captivating journey. I vividly recall a presentation where I embraced storytelling to convey intricate data trends. Weaving a narrative not only engaged my audience but also made the information relatable and memorable. By taking them on a journey of discovery, I could see eyes light up and genuine interest spark. Storytelling breathed life into the data, making it more than just numbers—it became an experience. From that moment on, I realized that a well-crafted story has the power to bridge the gap between data and understanding, making presentations not only informative but truly impactful.
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