1 Way to Short-Circuit Presentation Nerves

Winner or Loser? It all depends on how you edit.

At The Speaking Intensive℠ the most common answer to the question: What do you like least about speaking? is Nerves.

One way to help short-circuit presentation nerves … AVOID THE LOSER EDIT.

Urban Dictionary defines Loser Edit as “…when most or all of the footage seen of a particular contestant on a competitive reality show is aimed toward making that contestant seem inept, flustered, and generally in over his or her head.”

It works like this: Reality show producers shoot miles of footage before their show airs. That means they can select clips that can turn most any contestant into a fan favorite or villain. By doing a Loser Edit producers can make a contestant the #$@&! that viewers are glad to see eliminated or mad to see win.

A few weeks after learning about the Loser Edit, it hit me: I could tell my own life story as an outrageous success or dismal failure. All I have to do is selectively edit.

How about you?

What does this have to do with delivering presentations?

A lot.

All too many presenters do a Loser Edit on themselves before they speak. That’s a sure-fire way to destroy or diminish the impact of your presentations.

At The Speaking Intensive℠  many participants tell us they are nervous at the start of a presentation, but once they get going, they are ok. Why? Could it be that once they move through the first segment of their talk that little voice in back of their heads stops repeating their self-imposed Loser Edit?

If presentation nerves is your pain point, do the opposite. Start with a Winner Edit. Instead of focusing on failures, revisit successful moments in your life that will provide the fortification necessary to short-circuit your nerves so you can focus your attention on the audience.

Let us help you with this and more at The Speaking Intensive℠ . Register for the next small group session on July 13 & 14 before the early registration discount ends on May 31!

Connect with Alan and Lisa on LinkedIn!

 

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Hall of Fame speaker Alan Parisse has been coaching presenters and delivering keynotes for over 25 years. Named “One of the Top 21 Speakers for the 21st Century” by Successful Meetings Magazine, he is a keynote speaker for a wide variety of industries and organizations. Alan is a passionate presentation coach to executives, financial advisors, sports stars and sales presenters.

Lisa Casden has been coaching presenters for 10 years. A former professional figure skater, coach and choreographer, Lisa leverages her unique background and point of view to help speakers organize their physicality in ways that best support their message.