Knowing your presentation topic backwards and forwards will definitely help ease the anxiety on the day of the presentation or speech. If you have a choice, choose a topic that you can relate to or that interests you. Feeling involved in the presentation or speech will make it easier to talk about. Lets be honest, when the nerves strike, it is easy to draw a blank and forget what you are going to say next. Cue cards are a must if you are a nervous presenter. Make sure your cue cards are well designed and organized to aid in easily finding where you left off and what to say next. Whats worked for me in the past is doing point for notes on everything that I was talking about. It provides a "Cue" on what to say next.
Show up to the venue early. If you are using any type of electronics, test it to make sure that it works before the presentation. Nothing raises anxiety like things not happening as planned. Also, if you are presenting in a group, make sure that you know in what order everyone is speaking. Awkward silences during a presentation is nerve recking for everyone. Do a run through before to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch.
[1] Dlugan, A. (2008, February 27). Artwork. Blog entry posted to http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/speech-preparation-1-how-to-prepare-presentation/
[2] Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2011). Business communication: process and product (6th Canadian ed). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education Ltd.
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