Introduction > Presenting Science > Controlling Your Nerves

Controlling Your Nerves Most people will tell you that it's natural to be nervous before your presentation, and a few nerves are actually a good thing! Although true, this advice is often little comfort and doesn't help you to deal with your pre-presentation nerves! Making sure you're prepared is the best way to hep combat your nerves: be familiar with your presentation and content check out the venue before hand so you know the layout know your audience - who are they and roughly how many people should you expect to be attending? if you're nervous then making eye contact with the audience can be a daunting prospect. However, it's really important to establish this 'bond' - there's nothing worse for an audience than listening to a presenter who's either talking to the ceiling or to their feet! It can often help to make eye contact with someone in the audience who looks kind and sympathetic - having a friendly face can relax you, but avoid directing your whole presentation at that one person! with a big audience remember to scan the room. This will not only build a relationship with the audience but also will provide you with an indication of whether people are listening. Often people will nod when you are making important points and this can provide encouragement.

<<< Previous Page >>><<< Next Page >>>