THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Preparation

“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” – Alexander Graham Bell

TOPIC OF THE DAY

To Reduce Stage Fright, Prepare

Good preparation reduces performance anxiety. Next time you need to present to an audience, follow these three steps:

• Be confident in your topic. Your audience already believes that you're the expert, so don't try to bluff. If the people you're presenting to feel you're unsure of your material, they'll lose trust in you.
• Imagine questions people might ask. Construct answers before you give your speech. Either incorporate the answers into your presentation or be ready to provide them during Q&A.
• Memorize the first minute of your presentation. You experience your greatest anxiety at the beginning of a speech. Knowing the opening of your presentation will give you a good start.

Acknowledgement:
Cited in HBR Management Tip on March 8, 2012

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