Don't Let Nerves Affect Your Presentations

You have an important presentation next week and your palms are already starting to sweat. Here’s how to calm yourself down.

1. Accept that nerves are normal--public speaking is one of people’s top fears. Memorize and practice your introduction so it comes out without even thinking and you will be off and running with confidence.
2. Practice your whole presentation in a realistic setting. Book a conference room, grab a friend, and rehearse until you know it inside and out.
3. Understand your audience. Is your content relevant and interesting to them? Is your purpose clear? What should they know, do, and feel at the end to move them to action?
4. Get ongoing experience. Find ways to practice regularly: hire a coach or take a class to keep your skills fresh.

If you want to increase your influence, up your presentation skills. The power of persuasion is no longer a luxury but a necessity in today’s leadership landscape.

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About the Author

Kory Kogon is FranklinCovey's Vice President of Field Development. Kory's focus is to help strengthen the capacity of the field teams to be highly consultative, while driving revenue and renewal within FranklinCovey's new and exciting subscription model, the All Access Pass. Kory is also one of the authors of the Wall Street Journal bestseller "The 5 Choices: The Path to Extraordinary Productivity", in addition to "Project Management Essentials for the Unofficial Project Manager" and "Presentation Advantage". She has over 25 years of business expertise from front line positions to an executive team member. Prior to FranklinCovey, Kory spent six years as the Executive Vice President of Worldwide Operations for AlphaGraphics, Inc.

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