To feel panicked at work presentation

[Vittoriosa]

My new manager has asked me to do a presentation as part of a team meeting about the work of my department. I am a manager (albeit of a very small team - 1 direct report) so this is a fair ask I suppose. I have worked in my company for 10 years and have never once had to do a presentation in front of all of my colleagues and the thought of it horrifies me - I feel really panicky and ill at the thought. I would be nervous if it was non-colleagues but I think I could do it. It’s the fact that it is everyone I work with I am presenting to which is terrifying me. I know I am going to have to suck it up and do it. I am hoping for some tips to help me get through this or reassurance that I am not alone?

Will you be speaking from slides? I write my slides out and use the ‘notes’ function on each to write what I actually want to say whilst each slide is up. People don’t need you to read what’s in the slide to them, they can do that for themselves, you need to talk around them.

For example, I frequently talk about the economy and give updates on the foreign exchange and interest environment. My slide would have graphs and a couple of bullet points saying ‘inflation above target at 2.1%’. My notes slide would say ‘inflation unexpectedly breached target this month as a result of increased air fares & computer games. A no deal could see this rise further if the value of the pound falls further’. Time yourself, I aim for 1 slide per minute.

And always learn off by heart what the first sentence out of your mouth will be - ‘good afternoon, most of you know me already, but for those who don’t, I’m Edwin and I look after x’.

If you are nervous practise is the key. Write out exactly what you are going to say word for word. If you have slides still write it out for each slide. Put it on cards if needs be. Then go over and over it, standing up and practising. Get a family member to listen to you. If you do this, although you might still be nervous it will be much easier. I've done lot of presentations and this is what I did when I did my first ones. The more you do the easier it is.

Put minimal words (or better, use pictures) on the slides, and give people most of the information verbally.

Try not to say 'uh' too much.

Slow down. You're probably talking too fast.

It's not the end of the world - it's just a chance for you to give some information to other people.

Practice practice practice, in front of anyone who'll listen - this will help give you a confidence that you know your stuff inside and out. Doesn't mean learning everything by heart (except maybe your 'opener' as someone has said above) but a few key pointers that will jolt your memory when you're delivering the presentation. Ps You're not alone, most people hate presenting and the majority will be relieved they're not up there! Good luck, go smash it!

1. Introduce yourself and tell them what you are going to tell them.
2. Tell them.
3. Tell them what you told them.

Decide what you are going to do about questions and tell the audience in part 1. It's easier to deal with them at the end, as chances are you'll answer it during the presentation anyway, and you won't lose your train of thought.

If anyone asks too many questions or tries to take over, thank them for their contribution and tell them you'll answer/ discuss at the end.

Prime someone at the back of the audience to signal when you have 2 minutes left. Don't worry if you finish early, everyone will be grateful.

Bring biscuits (and sweets if the subject matter requires heavy thinking).

Good luck.

As other posters say really. My tips would be:

Practice esp at home in front of the mirror.
Speak slower than you normally would.
Keep slides brief and to the point so you don’t find yourself having to go into detail which risks you getting flustered.
Get someone else to read the slides beforehand so you can preempt questions.
If you’re presenting MI or numbers, triple check everything adds up / is consistent and that you have the detail on exceptions or anything unusual (not on the slides but notes with you).
Ask people at the start to keep questions until the end so they don’t disrupt your flow (but in a nice way of course along the lines of “I’ll go through the slides first and then take any question at the end”).
Check the room out and how you’ll connect your laptop (if needed).

Final one, I was told to avoid milky drinks before speaking as it coats your throat and can make it harder to project your voice. Don’t know if it’s true!

I used to be terrified of presentations and would have panic attacks, now I do them all the time and am not bothered

The big breakthrough for me was realising that I didn't need to be witty or amazing, Just remember you are explaining something and you are the expert in that topic. Be yourself and imagine you are just chatting and explaining it to a friend.

If you are relaxed and natural, your audience will be as well

Public speaking is scary, especially in front of people you know, so it's totally normal to feel nervous.

The advice on this site is excellent. www.doingpresentations.com/

Do you know how long you'll have? What size group is it?

You'll be talking about something you know well, so you'll be great!

I have to do this a lot for work and started getting really panicky, throat drying up etc.

I went to the GP and got beta blockers and they are AMZING. You take a couple half an hour or so before and they quell the physical sensations of panic - hyperventilating, raging heart etc. Which leaves you free to be yourself and do your presentation.

Honestly get some. They have changed my life. And I've given some to colleagues who say the same.

strongandlong I had to laugh at some of the advice on that site - spend 1 hours prep on every minute of your presentation

so my 30min presentation next week I should have spent most of the week on - I wish!

Spend a few minutes beforehand (and in private!) shaking your whole body. It stops you shaking if you get a bit nervous. Honestly, it works!

And like others say, practice, practice, practice. Good luck!!

Oh God I entirely empathise - when I first had to present I very nearly bolted from the room as they introduced me, I was so terrified.

But I've had to do it over and over, approximately 20 times a year for the last 3 years. I'll never be a natural presenter, but I can only echo what others have said already. If I could give you three tips to get you through it, they would be;

Practice
Practice
Practice.

It sounds silly, but I don't just mean study your slides - actually stand up and speak to an empty room, and SAY OUT LOUD what you plan to say for each slide. Don't finish that slide until you've tripped over your words and had to rephrase, change it, adjust the wording or the inflection, etc.

Do it for every slide, and when you've finished go back and do them again - and you'll notice you feel more fluent on the 2nd run. Practice what it sounds like when you say those words, and know what the first thing you want to say is for each slide (particularly the first one), so it becomes familiar.

If you know what to say first with every new slide, the rest will follow. You know this stuff, have faith in yourself.

Good luck, as a fellow anxious presenter I am rooting for you.

Oh yeah, beta blockers. Magic mate, can you score some from your GP? I take them for chronic migraine anyway, so I have a stash and just take an extra one on the morning of the first presentation (I often have to do 2 a day for 5 days). They stop the shaking and the dry mouth, if you can get some they really help!

Like others here, I don't find presenting easy, but it did get easier over time.

The first couple of times I did it I gave out the slides as handouts. Not very environmentally friendly I know, but I found it helped me because the audience were looking down at their handouts rather than at me.

A PP suggested saying that you would talk first and then take questions. Personally I prefer to take questions as I go. It makes it more a conversation than a lecture and I am more comfortable in that mode, especially when I know the audience.

Other than that, I agree with others about practice. I'm particular, make sure you practice speaking slowly. You'll be nervous and the natural reaction is to speak too fast. In particular, make sure you pause between sentences. Take some water with you and have a sip every now and again. It'll give you something to do with your hands and will slow you down a bit.

Good luck!

It’s a very common worry - public speaking and presentation giving - so you are not alone!

Just echoing what others have said about practice - the better you know your material the easier it will be to present it.

As they’re your colleagues, try and think of it as you talking to them normally rather than a formal presentation. You know these people, they aren’t strangers, they want you to do well.

Keep things simple.

No more than 6 bullet points on a slide, no more than 6 words to a bullet.

Try to anticipate any questions and have an answer ready.

Is there someone there you trust? Maybe tell them that you haven't done much presenting and ask them to give you feedback after the event.

Bullets only on the slide
Include graphics
Don't read off the slide
Don't go for funny

State your teams function and where you'd fit in the organisation. If people don't know you, explain a little bit of your history.

Explain how you're meeting your objectives, your successes - graphics and numbers here

If there is a particular challenge facing your function it might be an idea to include it and ask for suggestions

Close with your next steps for this year and how you plan to achieve them

Good luck- your manager obviously thinks youre good enough! That's confidence boosting so own it but expect questions from other stakeholders.

Is your firm large enough to have public speaking seminars?

All the firms I've worked in actually offered this as training for employees and itt was So useful!

Thanks all - some really useful tips on here. I will take all on board and do intend to put in some serious practice time. The issue is that I’m worried about screwing up in my front of my colleagues and embarassing myself due to nerves. I know I’m capable of doing a decent presentation, it’s just debilitating nerves holding me back! I am considering going to the gp for beta blockers as suggested

Yes beta blockers are amazing I can't do presentations without them, if you just explain to your GP it's for public speaking there should be no problem getting them they are very safe drugs