How do you get ready for a presentation?

Question:I get really nervous before and during presentations. My face gets all red and my voice starts shaking. I just can't help it. What are some good tips?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I get really nervous before and during presentations. My face gets all red and my voice starts shaking. I just can't help it. What are some good tips?

I give a lot of presentations, and I sit through a lot too.

To relax, right before I go on stage I put myself mentally in the shoes of the audience members.

Truth is, most of them would be rather somewhere else, doing something else. That's the sad reality.

But use that as your motivation. Don't think you need to deliver an A1 presentation that will blow them away, etc. You will just get too nervous.

Simply relax and present to them like you would prefer to be presented to. Not boring or nervous looking.

And if you can really get into the 'mind' of your audience, use it to your advantage to connect with them before you get started. If its sunny outside, and your audience is stuck inside, make a quick reference to that as you introduce yourself. Don't be scared to make them laugh.

It's a lot easier to win an audience with a little joke before you get started, than with perfect content and delivery for your entire presentation.

Practice Practice Practice. You don't have to memorize the presentation, but at least be close. Then if you get nervous and loose your spot you know the gist of what your saying.

take a 3x5 card up with bullet points. Think about keeping yoru feet grounded and your body calm when you speak. Nothing looks worse than fidgeting or moving around too much. It will make you look unprepared and nervous. Practice your presentation in front of the mirror several times or even better in front of a friend or relative.