Overload

[liralen]

Hmmm... I have a big presentation in just 10 minutes, and I can't seem to get my terror level up for it the way I used to.

Either I'm getting better at managing my fear, or I've been doing this enough times I'm not getting the adrenaline high I expect, or I'm just so exhausted from all the other things that I just can't care That Much anymore. At least I had a good night's sleep, as far as I can tell.

Comments

[tagryn]

I used to be horrible with stage fright: unstoppable shaking legs, the whole bit. I've also made more than my share of common mistakes, including going in underprepared figuring I could wing a presentation and making a bloody mess of the whole thing - babble, babble, babble, goes the mouth, etc., and watching the disaster happen but not being able to figure the way out of it.

I've learned. Now I always have the thing outlined, at the very least, and I try to have major ones very scripted so its just a matter of going from one overhead to another (or Powerpoint slide, though I always have overheads as backup after having one presentation nearly ruined by having to use a computer setup I was unfamiliar with) with additional comments already worked out. Otherwise, I *know* my mind will get distracted with some interesting fact that occurs to me on the fly, which leads away from the main flow & makes it hard to get back into for both me and the audience.

I'm probably isn't nearly as interesting listening as those folks for whom the "gift of gab" comes naturally, but it does get the points across I need to get across in an efficent manner. My next challenge is learning to deal effectively with audience questions, which are unscripted and sometimes have little relation to what was said. That part still makes me nervous; I think working as a teacher has helped a little with adjusting "on the fly."

The most helpful advice I got was to realize that the audience is there because they *want* to hear and understand what you have to say, and they're rooting for you to do well.

To your point: I think its natural to feel a certain comfort level after doing something enough times, and getting feedback that you're doing it well. It may also be a defense mechanism, in that our nervous systems would be a wreck if the anxiety level was the same every time presenting as the first few.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

That's very cool advice! I like that a lot.

And, yeah, I'd be a complete wreck if I had the same level of anxiety for the things that I do know. :-)

Cool about how you've accomplished so much more with time and knowledge of yourself. That's very cool, indeed.