Practical ways to ease presentation nerves

A public speaking class changed the course of my life. As a business major, I was required to take public speaking, and that was the only reason I enrolled in the class. I believed talented speakers were born that way and that, by extension, I’d never be good at it. But I was mistaken. I had a supportive instructor. I saw my peers in class grow and improve. I learned that you can learn to be a better speaker. And I decided to major in – and make a career of – communication. 

Crafting a good presentation is a skill that combines both art and science. At Virginia Tech, I direct the public speaking resource centre, known as the Comm Lab. Comm Lab provides a host of resources for creating presentations, including peer coaching by undergraduate students.

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Research shows that employers want college graduates who can communicate effectively. A National Association of Colleges and Employers’ survey earlier this year noted that communication skills – written and verbal – are among the most important soft skills employers are seeking. 

So, based on my experience, what makes a successful presentation?

What are the ingredients of a compelling presentation?

First, you need to understand the rhetorical situation of your speaking engagement. This includes the purpose, audience, context and speaker, which all influence your messaging. Let’s break them down:

• Purpose: a strong presentation starts with a clear and compelling purpose. Why are you speaking in front of an audience? Is your intention to inform, persuade or inspire? 
• Audience: make your presentation audience-centred. Know the demographics and psychographics of your audience so you can tailor your message. Understand what they already know and what they are hoping to learn or achieve by attending your presentation. Consider their values, attitudes and beliefs surrounding your topic; this allows you to craft your presentation carefully and consider language, examples and experiences that might best resonate with them. 
• Context: pay attention to what your listeners might be experiencing. Are you talking to college students in an 8am Monday class? Are you speaking to conference attendees right before the dinner break? Are you presenting to experts in your field? Not understanding the context can make your presentation less impactful or even uninformative.
• Speaker: assess yourself. Why have you been chosen to present? What are the motivations, biases and experiences that you bring to the table?

Then follow the rule of three, which refers to the use of planned repetition in the general speech structure of introduction, body and conclusion. Tell the audience what you’re going to say, say it, then summarise it. Learning theories indicate that we’re more likely to remember the first and last things we’re told. A concept called the primacy effect dictates that you open with an impactful statement and express your purpose for being there, so your listeners’ interests are piqued. The recency effect suggests that when you summarise your main points at the conclusion of your presentation, you should state your call to action. 

Leverage the power of storytelling

Storytelling is often overlooked as a key ingredient in effective presentations. And yet sharing authentic human experiences through stories is extremely compelling. Stories help you connect with your audience; they make your topic relatable, which ultimately increases the power, relevance and retention of your presentation. 

Be aware of non-verbal communications

Imagine the incongruence of a speaker announcing how happy he is to be there while speaking with a monotone voice and lack of eye contact, and with his arms crossed at his chest. Pay attention to non-verbal communication: facial expressions, body language, eye contact, vocal inflection. Most experts agree that 70 to 93 per cent of all communication is non-verbal. Effective presenters match their non-verbal delivery to the tone of their content and use that to engage with their audience. Show enthusiasm through gestures and use of calculated movement when you discuss an innovative concept or product, slow down your speech rate to draw attention to changes in patterns, or use vocal tones and facial expressions to express concern or care that reflects a sobering statistic. 

Avoid information overload

If you’re speaking on a complex topic, your listeners will need time to process what you’re presenting. Try to avoid covering too much. A tidal wave of information will only overwhelm the audience. Instead, consider narrowing the topic and digging deeper, using a variety of supporting evidence to connect with your listeners. Some consumers want to hear the latest statistics, while others want to know what experts have to say on the topic. Consider using presentational aids to showcase information visually and help with information processing and retention.

Strategic pauses can also help listeners process what you’ve said. If you’re allowing for questions, pauses give audience members a chance to formulate their enquiries. Rushing through a presentation is a missed opportunity for audience reflection and true engagement.

Use visual aids when appropriate

If you’re giving a presentation to a few people around a table, you might not need visual aids – but if you’re standing in front of an audience, consider using slides. We live in a visual society and are accustomed to seeing images and infographics. Visual aids can clarify and simplify complex or abstract concepts, enhance retention of information and get the audience more involved in your presentation.

Think of visual aids not as a substitute for your content, delivery or skills, but rather as a complement that amplifies your presentation. Make sure your visual aids are clear and consistent, integrate them smoothly with your speech and check them for errors.

I also recommend using blank slides or basic animation effects to avoid showcasing visuals that are not yet relevant or have already been covered. As catchy as they are, avoid overusing gifs or memes because they might distract from the purpose of your presentation. Many high-quality images are available free or at minimal cost. 

Practise, practise, practise

Practise your presentation out loud. When you articulate your ideas, you might find that you stumble over certain words or your speech is much shorter than you thought. Ideally, record yourself and practise in front of someone who will be honest with you. At Comm Lab, we offer recording services to hone presentations. 

These elements contribute to creating strong, compelling presentations. Having confidence in your presentation should serve to reduce at least some of the anxiety associated with public speaking, allowing you to leave a lasting impression on your audience that drives meaningful action.

Brandi A. Quesenberry is the director of undergraduate programmes and a senior instructor in the School of Communication at Virginia Tech. She also runs Virginia Tech’s Comm Lab.

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