Archive for April, 2009
The unsmiling interviewee…
Often when coaching in interview skills and other communication areas I use a video camera. Once people get over the horror of seeing and hearing themselves on screen, then it can be incredibly useful. I was working with someone recently who had been unsuccessful in several interviews and was very disheartened. He had received feedback that they got the impression that he wasn’t that bothered about the job (which was certainly not the case.) I could see instantly when interviewing him that he had very low energy, a blank unsmiling expression and also a monotonous voice. However this was only in the ‘interview practice’ not when we were just having a conversation. I gave him this feedback verbally but it wasn’t until he saw himself on camera that he really understood just how unenthusiastic he was appearing. By simply smiling at various points, sitting forward in his chair and getting some expression into his voice, his delivery was transformed. When people get very nervous their expression often becomes blank and rather stern. So the key advice is – remember to smile!
Remembering to breathe
The presenter who passed out through nerves that I mentioned in the last post clearly forgot to breathe. It is a common reaction when we’re under pressure to hold your breath – which is of course the worse thing you can do!
Reminding yourself to take deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth is the best way to deal with difficult situations.
Also if you focus on your breath it takes your mind off any nerves you might have.
A very nervous presenter
I was coaching someone yesterday who had been so nervous many years ago when presenting that he had acutally fainted! Now this is clearly an extreme reaction but panic in this situation is not unusual.
Practically everyone I’ve ever coached in public speaking or presentation skills has wanted to deal with nerves. There are many great techniques and strategies for doing this and the one I always start with is preparation. And that means pracising out loud the words that you are planning to use in the presentation.
It amazes me how few people do this as it is such an effective way to deal with the nerves that result from worrying that something is going to go wrong. I wouldn’t expect to be able to get up in front of a room full of people and, for example, play a piano sonata withoug practising first. So why on earth would I expect to deliver a fantastic presentation or speech without doing the same?