TRYING TOO HARD

It happens to elite athletes, experienced presenters and it has likely happened to you. It comes in varying degrees of intensity and you'll be known by your ability to minimise it or alternatively it will rule you to the point you will be completely disempowered as a presenter. Should you be providing presentation or public speaking skills you'll need to address this critical success factor with your participants in that training. If you do not, it is of no importance what skills you teach them, as it will not improve their ability to speak publicly or train masterfully if left unaddressed.

What I am talking about is Performance Anxiety and its many facets. It shows itself in the speaker by them behaving in a number of ways like being fidgety, appearing uptight, nervous, being forgetful of their words, uneasy or distracted at times and not focused on what they are saying. The worst case scenario is they completely freeze, are unable to say a word and they can end up avoiding presenting and refuse any future opportunities inviting them to speak in a public or professional.