You're facing self-doubt before presenting to industry experts. How will you conquer it?

In the moments before presenting to industry experts, Sarah battled self-doubt. Despite thorough preparation, nerves threatened to overshadow her confidence. Reflecting on her dedication and support from mentors, she took a deep breath and faced the panel with determination. Delivering her presentation with passion and clarity, Sarah embraced her nerves as fuel. The positive reception affirmed her expertise, proving that overcoming self-doubt meant harnessing it for growth and resilience.

It's normal to feel shaky presenting to industry giants, but self-doubt can be tamed. Reframe your nerves as energy, visualize success, and remember even experts get jitters. Focus on the opportunity to share your passion and expertise, and trust the preparation you've done. You've got this!

~One thing I've found helpful is thorough preparation. Knowing your material inside and out can significantly boost your confidence. Practice your presentation multiple times, ideally in front of a small, supportive audience who can provide constructive feedback. ~Actually, I disagree with the idea that you should always imagine your audience in an unflattering way to reduce anxiety. Instead, view them as people genuinely interested in what you have to say. ~An example I've seen is a colleague who used storytelling to connect with the audience. By sharing relatable anecdotes and personal experiences, they made their presentation more engaging and memorable, which also helped them feel more at ease.

I remind myself that I have already done the hard work through research, getting feedback and practicing the presentation. You can then draw on past experiences that have went successful to build your confidence. I also know that it does not have to be perfect to go well.

Having a deep understanding of the topic will replace fear with confidence as you can't but help to showcase your own expertise. Caution is necessary too so as not to get lost in the moment and for a second get to thinking that you have information that's hidden from the experts you're presenting to.

Preparation and practice are the two important tools which differentiate between an average presenter and a great presenter. 1. Understand the stuff well don't use fancy jargons if you don't know it. 2. Prepare in pictorial format for better understanding. 3.Use live experience and examples to make it more relavent. 4. Practice it well so that you can present it good way ,take pause as well. 5.Body language and gestures are important too along with voice modulation.

Beyond knowing that you must practice, it's important to know how to practice as well. What many people get wrong about practice is that it is repeating the activity you want to get better at. But a better way to practice is to break down the skill into sub skills and incorporate practicing those skills in your daily routine.

While practicing for me often feels like 'finishing the juice' it has always made the difference in presentations I did or did not practice. I am more of a 'thorough preparation' person. Read, connect to the lingo but most importantly be able to define concepts in the simplest terms possible. I also prefer to have to have a look at my slides or content for the 100th time just to be sure the words give me the plot of the presentation!

We overcome self-doubt through relentless practice before presenting to industry experts. We rehearse our presentation numerous times, honing our delivery, tone, and body language. We practice in front of mirrors, record ourselves, and seek feedback from peers and mentors. We refine our slides, scripts, and key messages, ensuring clarity and concision. Through repetition and refinement, we build muscle memory and confidence, transforming our anxiety into anticipation. We become so familiar with our material that we can focus on engaging our audience, rather than worrying about our performance. Our preparation empowers us to own the stage and share our expertise with authority.

Some ways to get started - 1st think that you are superior to others and start believing it (Comes with practice) - Engage your audience by asking out of the box questions. -Tell emotional stories ( as it depends on the age group of your audience) -Give examples from history to make your point more impact full.

Visualization techniques are valuable as the vision for a goal. I picture myself before presenting to a crucial audience. From how to deliver the presentation flawlessly, handling questions with confidence, and engaging with the audience effectively can enhance performance when the actual presentation takes place. This helps me to prepare well be prepared for their questions and also way out if I'm stuck

The FTBA model helps in understanding the connection between our internal processes and external behaviors. Here's a breakdown: 1. Feelings- already try to feel the success. 2. Thoughts- These are the interpretations and perceptions of situations. Thoughts influence how you understand and react to events. For instance, how you perceive a challenging task can affect your emotional response and subsequent actions. 3. Beliefs- Don’t doubt about the result. Beliefs influence your thoughts and feelings by providing a framework through which you interpret experiences. They are often shaped by past experiences, culture, and upbringing. 4. Actions- the final step after visualisation.

Instead of battling anxiety, reframing it as excitement and energy can enhance the delivery. Embracing nerves as a sign of passion can lead to a more dynamic presentation. For example, thinking of nerves as a sign of caring about delivering a high-quality presentation can transform the perception of anxiety.

Always search for mentors. Here are five points on the importance of always searching for mentors: 1. Guidance and Expertise 2. Networking Opportunities 3. Personal Growth 4. Accountability and Motivation 5. Different Perspectives for further growth process

We engage experts before presenting to industry experts by seeking their input and insights. We conduct research, interviews, and surveys to understand their needs, challenges, and perspectives. We share our findings and ideas with them, asking for feedback and validation. We also collaborate with them on content development, ensuring our message resonates with their expertise. By involving experts in our preparation, we build credibility, trust, and a deeper understanding of the industry. Our presentation becomes a valuable conversation, rather than a one-way pitch, showcasing our expertise and willingness to listen and learn from others.

'They experts' means they just want to get your perspective of the concept you are presenting. So after preparing enough, I stick to the script and the scope I intend to present. In case of a digression, often I would make it more interactive, and get their perspectives before I would pass my opinion as well. It helps gather the views in the room and provide a comprehensive answer. Even while in the room, I always already can spot one or two experts who have a likeminded view of things that boosts the engagement!

Set realistic expectations for yourself as well for the audience. Understanding that perfection is not necessary and focusing on delivering value rather than flawlessness can alleviate self-doubt. One should remember that every speaker makes mistakes and it's how you handle them that defines your resilience and capability as a presenter is crucial.

Let me offer a few recommendations that may be a little different but have also helped me in addition to the advice given above: 1) Dress for success - I often find that I feel and present better when I am in my most comfortable, professional attire. How I feel in my clothes (and hair) impacts my overall confidence. 2) Mindfulness matters - make sure to spend a few quiet moments beforehand engaging in mindfulness exercises, meditation, deep breathing. Calms the body and the mind. 3) Prepare for Q&A: the most nerve-wracking part of presenting is the final part of Q&A. For that reason, I like to present in front of trusted colleagues and have them ask questions so I can prepare responses and include them in my notes for the session.

Try to determine exactly where your fear is coming from. What EXACTLY are you afraid of? Looking stupid? Not having the right answers? Forgetting your place? Thinking they won't like you? If you can identify the fear, you can start to determine if there is any truth behind, and how to reframe it. For example, once I was about to speak to a group of men I was terrified. When I explored why, I realized that I believed men didn't care what I had to say. So I determined whether that was truth or an emotion driving my car. I researched to see what the evidence said. Many of my happy clients were men. I have great testimonials from men in my audience. Turns out I was believing a lie. So I replaced it with a new truth and began to reprogram.