Many of the best presenters use the power of positive thinking before they present. They imagine themselves as successful, confident, engaging speakers and almost ‘trick’ themselves into believing they can do it. It’s called re-framing and certainly works for some.  

Another aspect to positive thinking in your presentation is the way you choose to describe the nervousness. Have you ever stopped to think that it’s the exact same physiological experience in your body whether you are nervous or excited? Did you realise that in fact, the only thing that determines whether that feeling you’ve got is a negative or positive experience is the word you choose to use to describe it?

How should you manage your nerves?

If you have ever been bungy jumping, abseiling, parachuting, rafting, climbing, caving, scuba diving, or parasailing, you know full well that people pay money to experience the feeling we get when we present! And when you are doing those ‘adventure’ type sports you don’t call the feeling nervousness. You call it:

• • excitement
  • energy
  • being pumped
  • exhilaration
  • thrill
  • joy
  • arousal
  • pleasure
  • stimulation
  • enthusiasm

So the question to ask yourself is this: which word do you want to choose to use?

Because if you continue to call it nervousness, I’m not sure you’re really that serious about making presenting an enjoyable experience for yourself.

Remember, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result!  So it’s quite simple really: change the word and change the experience.  Why not do it for your next presentation?

Happy presenting!