Jerry Seinfeld once told a joke about public speaking, “According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking.  Number two is death.  Death is number two.  Does that sound right?  This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”

Fortunately research does not support the statistic that people would rather die (~20%) than give a public presentation.  Having said that, a lot of people cite fear of presenting as their number one reason for not getting out there and sharing the knowledge and skill sets they have.

Fear surrounding public speaking stems from a number of sources, including physiological reactions (arousal of the autonomic nervous system, the flight or fight response), psychological reactions, and situational factors.  Fear often arises when we overestimate the stakes of communicating our ideas in front of others.  We fear being judged, we fear making mistakes, and we fear being judged for our mistakes.

So how might we overcome our fears and effectively communicate our knowledge and ideas?

#1.          Accept the fact that you will be judged.  This is likely the hardest stumbling block for most people to overcome.  When we attend presentations, we judge the speaker(s) on their looks, their delivery, their tools and techniques, their habits, and their message.  We, in turn, will be judged on these same factors.  If we want to be evaluated in a favorable light, then we must connect with the audience and deliver an informative, well-practiced (not memorized) presentation.  We don’t have to be born entertainers, we just have to find a way to connect with the audience, while keeping on point.

#2.          Prepare.  Two-thirds of delivering an effective presentation comes not in the delivery itself, but in the preparation. Consider the message you want to deliver, then write clear, concise objectives.  For most presentations, 1-2 SMART objectives is sufficient.

• Specific-  Specific objectives answer the questions “What is to be done?” and “How will you know it is done?” Participants want to know what they will walk away from your presentation having learned.  Tell participants exactly what will be covered and how they will interact with or apply concepts presented.  For example,

         – Participants will be able to list the qualities of an effective presentation.

         – Participants will design and deliver a short (3-4 minutes) presentation.

• Measureable-  Measureable objectives answer the question, “How will you know it meets expectations?” If you told participants that they will walk away with a specific nugget of information, then you should deliver on that nugget.  If you told them they will be able to list the qualities of an effective presentation, then you should list those qualities and have participants engage with and repeat those qualities for better retention and recall.
• Attainable-  Attainable or achievable answers the question “Can it be done given the time frame, opportunity, and resources?” Have you given participants the resources they need, and have you allowed enough time for participants to interact with the material presented?
• Relevant-  Relevant answers the questions, “Why is this being done?” and “What will be the impact?” Ensure that you know something about your audience.  Are they already familiar with the topic or will you be introducing an entirely new concept?  Pre-polling your audience in order to gauge levels of experience and expectations can help tailor information to audience needs.  If you cannot pre-poll your audience, or if you are not comfortable making changes on the fly, then take care that your presentation title, description and stated objectives make clear your intentions.
• Time-oriented-  Time-orientation refers to the fact that an objective has end points and check points built into it. “When will it be done?” Have you actually built in time for all participants to design their own 3-4 minute presentation? Did you allow sufficient time for delivery of, and feedback on, their presentations?

#3.          Practice.  After you have prepared a well-organized outline, based on your clear, concise objectives, practice.  Practice delivering your presentation in its entirety- whether to a friend, a colleague, or in the mirror.  Can you get through the presentation and planned activities in the time allotted?  Have you allowed time for questions?  Do you have material in your back pocket in case you get no questions or little audience participation?  Have you practiced using your software or any audio, video, or props you’ve incorporated?  Practicing is not about memorizing your material.  It’s about becoming comfortable with the flow of the material and becoming comfortable in the presentation space.  Don’t be afraid to make adjustments to your presentation based on what you learn while practicing.

#4.          Deliver.  Deliver on what you promised.  At the beginning of all my presentations, I restate the objectives.  Doing so helps frame my presentation so that I remain on target.  While use of personal stories can help connect with the audience, too many stories may lead you off topic or have you running out of time needed to present crucial concepts.  Restating objectives also sets up audience expectations, which can help ensure participants favorably evaluate your presentation in that they got what they came for.

In addition to staying on topic, be sure to speak clearly, repeat questions so everyone can hear them and so you can be certain you are interpreting questions accurately, pace yourself, and bring energy to your presentation.  If you are falling asleep, chances are so is your audience!  Try to limit distracting gestures and expressions and be certain to dress for success.  Research supports the notion that suitable attire is important to impression formation, which in turn impacts receptivity and evaluation.

#5.          End on a high note.  End your presentation with a memorable quote or other statement that summarizes your main points.  Provide your contact information so participants with lingering questions can contact you.  Finally, be certain to thank your participants.  They made the time to attend your presentation and share in the joy of discovery with you, it’s only right that you thank them for their participation.

Delivering effective presentations may help advance your career, grow your network, or solidify your knowledge.  The benefits of sharing information, particularly in the area of research administration, outweigh the need to protect ourselves from the fear of speaking in front of others.  With careful preparation, practice, and confidence, you can deliver an effective presentation and chances are, you won’t die doing so.