Better Presentation Skills for More Effective Networking By Ruth Gatling, Mid-Atlantic Bureau Chief    Ruth's Bio    Email article     RSS feed       Share on  facebook

You can network every day, meet hundreds of people, and collect a ton of business cards. But if your communication skills are a little shy, reaping the benefits of your efforts will be a lot more difficult. The fear of speaking is rated second only to the fear of snakes and before the fear of dying.

For some, the anxiety caused by a fear of speaking, even in a casual environment, may start hours, even days before an event. Their heart may start racing; their mouth may get dry; maybe worse. Once the person starts talking, the heart keeps beating rapidly and the person may hear his or her voice tremble. The legs or even the whole body may start shaking. They may stutter or start speaking rapidly. Although some people calm down, once they get going, others may ramble on incoherently.

That sure doesn’t make for a great first impression.

What to do? Hone your public speaking skills. Most, if not all, tips and tricks for overcoming public speaking fears can be applied to everyday networking practices. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Prepare - One of the best ways to reduce stage fright is to prepare. Know what you’re going to talk about, who you’ll be speaking to, and the environment of the event. Going to a casual after hours business card exchange isn’t the same as going to a business luncheon with a guest speaker. When you are well prepared, you feel more relaxed and sure of yourself. That’s translates into a more confident stature and less hesitant speech.

2. Practice - Sometimes it’s easiest to start by practicing alone. Recite your pitch out loud. Get the material ingrained in your memory. Use a mirror to help increase your concentration. You’ll also get an idea of how you look when speaking. Practice while standing in a corner. The sound reflects back to you, and you can hear how you sound when you speak. Record yourself. This is one of the best ways to shine the light on the extraneous– uhms and ahs, long awkward pauses, stumbling and mumbling. It also allows you to study your phrasing, and your content.

Once you feel fairly confident with what you’re saying and how you’re saying it, recruit friends and business associates to role play with you. Video tape yourself. Body language will precede even your words in terms of a first impression. Ask for feedback. Often, we think we’re communicating clearly, but what makes sense to us, doesn’t necessarily make sense to those around us. Even when you feel really comfortable with your schpiel, practice is important. The more you practice, the more automatic it becomes, and the more confidence you have in your abilities to communicate clearly.

3. Be genuine - We all can smell a fake a mile away, and what a turn off that can be. People do business with people they know, like and trust. A common defense mechanism is an overwhelming “show” of confidence. Someone who’s perceived as over confident is often written off as arrogant, and untrustworthy. Being genuine means admitting you’re fallible. A modest helping of humility and vulnerability not only isn’t a sign of weakness, it breeds self-confidence. No one trusts someone who isn’t “real.” Be yourself.

4. Be engaged - We humans are, by nature, a very self-involved lot. There’s little we enjoy doing more than talking about ourselves. Resist the urge. Give your time and attention to the person opposite of you. Ask questions, be interested. Transferring your focus away from yourself, will help to put you at ease.

5. Be present - Try your best to be in the moment. Let go of any stumbles you may have made or any possible stumbles lurking around the corner. Spending time and energy focused on the past or future will undermine your efforts.

6. Take some deep breaths - Remember, the fear of speaking is rated second only to the fear of snakes and before the fear of dying. Most of us have experienced the same fears. Relax, you’re not alone.

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