Tips on How to Calm Your Nerves in Front of a Group

We had a great Coffee & Cards team meeting today! One of our own team members, Tracy Burns is a professional Spokes Model and has an extensive theatre background. She taught us great tips and tricks to help ease nervousness in front of a group.

Get Centered:
1) Take a deep breath before you go into the event. Tell yourself an affirmation that the event will go well.

2) If you feel yourself getting unsteady on your feet, dig your heels into the ground and squeeze your butt together (yes, this really works!)

3) Keep your hands out of your pockets, and hold them together in front of you (unnecessary movement distracts your audience and they don't hear what you are saying)

4) No chewing gum - ever! Use the disolvable Listerine strips instead.

Clothing:
1) Have several outfits (including accessories, shoes, etc) ready so at a moment's notice you will be able to throw it on and feel comfortable

2) Make sure you practice your commercial in the entire outfit, including walking around in your shoes.

Practicing Your Commercial:
Have a commercial ready for different times (15 seconds, 30 Seconds, 60 seconds)
1) Formal - In front of a networking group, etc.

2) Informal - When you bump into someone unexpectedly (elevator, grocery store, at your children's activities)

3) Once you can do your commercial without hesitating, then add layers of distractions (radio, t.v., in the shower, ironing) Master this and you will be ready for any situation!

To Eat or not To Eat...that is the Question:
1) If you know that you will be at a morning and afternoon event, make sure you stay hydrated and have power bars with you or snacks to give yourself enough energy to get through the day.

How to Deal with Hecklers:
1) A great trick to stop someone from interrupting your commercial or presentation, hold up your hand with your index finger only held up and signal to the person that you will get to their question...as soon as you are done finishing your thought. (I actually got to practice this one hour after Tracy taught us this - we went to do a group presentation at a local college and one of the women kept trying to ask a question before I had a chance to get to the three ways to get started - it worked like a charm, she stopped interrupting and sat back in her chair and waited!)

2) If you are at an event and you get stuck talking with a conversation hog, have a signal ready to have a friend bail you out. Or excuse yourself to the bathroom or to get a drink.