I wrote some advice on a public speaking forum recently in support of another poster who’d suggested not fighting a problem. The original poster had asked for the usual magic bullet about how to make their speicifc problems relating to presenting “go away” and someone called Cutecut suggested that they just ‘let it be’…
All to often people seem to think that presentations are ‘supposed’ to be easy and that they’re ‘unusual’ or something because they find them difficult.
The truth is, they [b]are[/b] difficult and it’s [b]normal[/b] to have problems with them. Very often the solution to a specific problem is just to let it be – sometimes that makes it go away of it’s own volition – and accept the fact that presentations aren’t ever perfect. No one does perfect presentations: no one at all.
Accepting that your audience are going to forgive you the odd imperfection is a great way of making your presentations better and enjoying your public speaking more, obviously; but remember that – at least until your an expert – it’s always going to be nerve-inducing and difficult. It’s supposed to be: if it isn’t, you’ll be rubbish – because nerves are good.
Actually, that’s not 100% true – there is a class of people who can be less than expert and still not be nervous or find it difficult. You’ll spot them for yourselves though: they’ll be the really, really bad speakers! :)
