1. Clearly the most effective strategy
is the confidence that comes from past
efforts of having done “good science”
and organizing and preparing a good
presentation. Problems occur when the
speaker approaches the podium thinking,
“I hope they don’t ask me about . . .”
or “I wish I had redone that slide.”
2. Visit the room before the presentation
and stand on the stage if possible.
This familiarity with the environment
can be comforting.
3. If you concentrate on establishing
a conversation with your listeners, you’ll
forget about yourself and lose your selfconsciousness.
In the process, you’ll lose
your nervousness.
4. If you anticipate that you won’t
know anyone in the audience, try to establish
some personal contacts with a
few of your listeners before your talk. In
this way, you’ll have some friendly faces
to look at during your talk.
5. After you are introduced, take several
deep breaths, then walk to the podium
as if you were answering a knock at
the door. Once you reach the podium,
take a moment to place your notes,
cards, or papers on the podium, thank
the chair, look at the audience for a brief
second so as not to appear hurried, then
begin.
6. At the podium, relax, slightly
spreading your feet so as not to appear
stiff. Placing your hands on the side of
the rostrum, not gripping for it for life,
gives an appearance of calm control
throughout the presentation.