This blog is about presentations & public speaking - how to make 'em, how not to make 'em and how other people are making 'em. Feel free to read, use and comment on what you find here. And good luck with your presentations...
Breathe away the fear
One of the biggest reasons people book themselves onto our presentation skills courses is their fear of presenting – there are lots of techniques we cover on these days, but some of them need a build-up.
However, here’s a stand-alone, specific tip for anyone suffering from an attack of performance nerves – be it in relation to a presentation, a wedding speech, a job interview or even just being introduced to your new partner’s parents! It has the added advantage of being very simple and being something you can do unobtrusively, while you’re waiting to speak, for example.
- Breathe in slowly, for a count of four
- Hold it for four beats
- Breathe out slowly, for a count of eight
- Hold it for four beats once more before you breathe in again
How does it work? Well, there are two things going on here. The first is that your blood chemistry is being altered by the way you breathe, causing your body to release a rash of hormones to do with calmness and relaxation. The second is the somewhat more esoteric point that while you’re doing this you’re concentrating on yourself and not on the problem!
For best results, you should do it while you’re standing up, or at least sitting upright with your stomach not folded at all – no slouching. You should also make sure you don’t let your shoulders rise up as you do this: that just adds to the tension.
I hope that’s useful for you (and not just the two people who asked for it this week!).
Big news - new project
Well, it’s taken us a while to get our act together, but we’re finally ready to go public with Better Wedding Speeches.
It’s a new project, designed not to help people making business presentations but instead to concentrate on helping people who’ve been asked (and have agreed!) to make a speech at a wedding…. but who don’t know where to start.
We’re going to be working with Best Men, Chief Bridesmaids, Fathers of the Bride…. you get the idea! 
So spread the word. If you, or anyone you know is a bit nervous about the big speech on the big day, let us help!
S
