I have to give a presentation - help!

[LoveBeingAMum555]

So, I am a middle manager, been in my job a good few years, often have to be on the ball in meetings or speak in front of 15/20 people. No problem there. Next month I have to give a presentation to 100 people and I am terrified. No getting out of this and it is really important that I don't mess it up.

Any advice. I really don't want to make an idiot of myself. I am scared it will come to my presentation and I will freeze or my voice will shake. Obviously I will make sure I am as well prepared as possible, but what else can I do?

A prescription for propranolol for situational anxiety.
It will help with the racing heart/ shakes.

One thing I find really helps is to slow down your words taking a deep breath before each sentence and lowering your tone. This will help to calm you down and your tone will come across as considered. In your head, you might think that it is too slow, but it really won't be as slow as you think. You can practise this by recording yourself on Microsoft Teams or your phone.

Another tip I find useful is when presenting, focus right at the back of the room just slightly above people's heads. It gives the impression you are acknowledging them but won't distract you.

Remember, that a lot of people really won't be paying that much attention so will probably not notice any slip-ups anyway!

Also could you practice in the room you will be presenting in with a trusted colleague to give you feedback?]]

Good luck!

I agree with the slowing down point. Nerves make you go nuts and you end up steamrolling through it, often saying something in a future slide before it's time.

Get someone to proofread it. Nothing worse than noticing a mistake WHILE reading it.

Maybe have a pointer or a fidget 'thing', even a pen. You'll find a 'comfort blanket' sooo helpful to guide your nerves.

Maybe read up on slide etiquette, (not having too many bullet points, colours you shouldn't use, graphics that are a distraction), also maybe keyboard shortcuts like F5 to run it so you're not nervously fumbling around with the mouse.

Likewise (sometimes this matters), close/hide any programmes that might pop up, similarly make sure before you enter the auditorium to have hidden or turned off files on your desktop you don't want people to see.

It goes without saying that you know your stuff and will be thoroughly prepared, but I would suggest you get someone to video you doing the presentation from start to finish (a practise run) and then watch it back. This will give you some invaluable insight - either on ways to improve, or it will make you realise that you're actually pretty good already. I went on a presentation skills course years ago because I always felt SO nervous doing presentations and they filmed us - it transpired that all the things I was feeling and even what I thought was my shaky voice, didn't come across at all. It was an absolute revelation and gave me so much confidence (in fact, the trainer even asked me why I'd come on the course in the first place!).
Also, don't make the mistake of creating a slide pack and then just reading out what's on each slide - it's very boring and the audience will read ahead of you and then switch off - you need to provide key information on the slides and then talk around them, providing additional information, context, other scenarios, etc. (Forgive me if you would never have made this mistake - I don't want to insult your intelligence - but I've sat in so many presentations where this is exactly what's happened, so I thought it worth mentioning.)
Finally, remember, the audience want you to be good - they want to feel in safe hands. And you wouldn't have been asked to do this if you're not good at your job and your managers don't trust you - you clearly are and they clearly do. Good luck! 😊

I completely get where you're coming from. Speaking to 15-20 people in meetings might feel second nature, but jumping to 100 can feel like a whole different ballgame. The good news is that this is totally manageable, and there are a few strategies that can help keep things on track and keep your nerves in check.
Preparation, but in a different way:

You're already set on preparing your content, which is great. But also focus on preparing your delivery. Practice not just what you’re saying but how you’re saying it. Deliver it out loud, ideally in front of a colleague or even just in front of a mirror. This gets your body and voice comfortable with the material, so when the big day comes, it’s more muscle memory than improvisation.

Break it down:

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when thinking about addressing 100 people. A trick I’ve found helpful is mentally breaking the audience down. You’re still speaking to individuals at the end of the day. Focus on a few people spread across the room – give yourself permission to connect with smaller groups at a time, and the room won’t feel as daunting.

Breathing and posture:

This might sound basic, but breathing exercises before your presentation can work wonders. A few deep breaths right before stepping up will help calm your nerves and ground you. When you’re standing there, be mindful of your posture – standing tall helps you project confidence, and it can trick your brain into feeling more confident too.

Visual aids and notes:

Make good use of any slides or visual aids – they can take some pressure off you and give you small breaks during the presentation. If you feel shaky, glance at your notes or the slide to regain focus without losing momentum.

Own the nerves:

Remember, nerves are a sign that this matters to you. Channel them into energy that works for you. It’s okay to feel nervous, and if your voice shakes a bit or you stumble over a word – no one will think less of you. It’s more about how you recover and keep going.

Reframe the event:

Shift your mindset about this presentation. Instead of seeing it as a one-time shot to impress, think of it as a conversation where you’re adding value. This can help reframe the pressure you might be putting on yourself.
You’ve got this – you’ve done meetings, you know your stuff, and with a bit of practice, you’ll nail it in front of 100 just as easily as in front of 20. I’d say give yourself a trial run with a few trusted colleagues beforehand and gather some feedback
.
remember, confidence builds with experience – so this is just another step to becoming even more of a powerhouse in front of any crowd.

That's a great post from @Derwent01 and I especially second the advice about practicing out loud. You'll feel ridiculous but it will enable you to clear any spots where you might find yourself waffling or scrambling for words.

Also remember if your voice shakes in the first minute or two that's fine. People get nervous. Over the years I've seen quite a few senior people show signs of being nervous when presenting. Doesn't matter, they were good at their job. It can be nice to see them as human.

I’m like this, I take propranolol to deal with the visible shakes. It does really help.

I did a course last year on presentation skills. It was really interesting basically making you realise blank stares from the audience are normal, also no one really gives a toss about you so don’t overthink it.

Practise, practise, practise then embrace it! You’re more wonderful than you realise.

Obviously you can practice alone but on the day there will be some things that make it different.
so, you will have a microphone of sone kind. Do you know what type you will have? A handheld one? A lapel? See if you can find out.
I wuite liked a handheld when I used to get nervous as it gave me something to hold.
if you will have a hand held practice your presentation will a pretend or real one in your hand.
what will be in your other hand? A clicker for the slides?

will you be on a small stage?
the thing I notice is that sometimes when people get nervous they pace up and down the stage. It can be distracting. One tactic I use is to think of my body like a tree trunk. Super grounded. Connected to the ground. And I actually don’t move a huge amount. I’m quite deliberate about it. Depends on room shape etc.

also, what surprised me first time I did it was that of course there are people there and they can be quite distracting. I did practice to my wife and she actually wouod just fidget, speak, do other stuff that could distract me. So I practiced staying on track.

I found it so empowering when I first did it. And now found i really enjoy it. I wish the same for you.

Practice, practice and time yourself so you can see if you have enough content.

When you practice speak aloud as that helps you see if there any parts you trip over your words and then you can think of different ways to say the same thing.

Always have the first thing you are going to say ready. I find this is the most important thing. Once you start to speak - the rest will follow.

Lastly ask about logistics and get there early enough to sort out mikes or is it lecture, who is moving on your slides

I can’t agree more with lifehappens12: it is vital to practice as much as you can. Stand up in a room (can you get into the actual room?) and go over your presentation. It’s a good idea to write bullet points on index cards but make sure you have them tied together in case you drop them.

Oh my goodness so many helpful hints, thank you so much. I have never had the chance to do a course on presenting but that's something that would be useful in future.

I have already drafted my presentation but hearing your advice I think I need to reduce my content a bit so that I can slow it down. You have also given some really good advice about finding out more about the venue and the equipment too, I have never been there before.

One of my work colleagues is coming with me and she has volunteered to sit in the audience towards the back so I can focus on her if I need to. I have got plenty of time to work on this and practice, I also need to remember not to overthink it. I want to do this well but I need to keep it all in perspective.

I really appreciate the help, thanks again.