Fret Not in High-Stakes Meetings
Three Strategies To Build Confidence.
Who gets spooked in high-stakes meetings or presentations? I do. And often any angst goes beyond glossophobia, a fear of public speaking plaguing around 73% of Americans. The fear ties more to wanting to feel accepted, liked, and heard. Whether you're after funding, approval, or feedback on ideas, this article offers three strategies to replace fear with comfort (even joy) in your next meeting.
Prepare For Your Meeting
With the average American worker working nine hour days, probably more during COVID, prepping for a meeting can feel burdensome. But the shift from preparing vs. winging things becomes undeniable. You'll reduce angst and present better, too. A simple game plan may include:
Preparing a few points you wish to make
Preempting what the audience cares most about via a quick call, survey or email.
Prepping with a coach or colleague on the audience's communication style and how to work within that. If your audience members tend to hijack meetings, have a rebound plan. If your audience feels meeting weary, keep things lively and short.
Follow A Framework
Having a framework for a meeting or presentation not only helps organize your ideas, you'll come across as polished and save both you and your audience time. The tried and tested Aristotelian "triptych" method can bottom line and focus ideas:
Tell them what you will tell them. (Your opener.)
Tell them. (Your body where you flesh out three to five key ideas and offer details on what you promised in your opener.)
Tell them what you just told them. (Your compelling out-tro where you conclude and reiterate salient points but also anything personal on why this felt important and what you hope your audience learned.)
Ground Yourself Before Going In
Even with a framework and strategy, grounding a little before we go in can create additional, seismic shifts. Multiple methods exist for settling one's nerves. I'm sharing here a few that clients (and I) have tried, tested, and loved:
Employ the Positive Intelligence app for meditations which guide you through mindfulness by concentrating on one sense at a time. Rubbing two fingers together intentionally employs our sense of touch and grounds us. Looking with extreme curiosity at something (a plant, the clouds, a picture, etc.) grounds and helps connect with your Sage power, the positive part of your brain. [Hint: You can also do reps within the meeting to help recover more quickly from any negative emotion.]
Visualize yourself as a child and (for one-on-one meetings) visualize the audience as a sweet little child, too. Imagine them wanting to feel loved, attended to, accepted and admired, just like you. The resulting empathy and compassion will replace worry and fear. (Technique courtesy of Shirzad Chamine and Positive Intelligence.)
Look in a mirror at your own reflection. Pay exquisite attention to your face, your skin, eyes, and hair. Feel full love for the fine adult you've become. Bask in your awesomeness for five minutes (or more) before you meet or present. (Technique courtesy of Shirzad Chamine and Positive Intelligence.)
Now you've an infallible framework, a concept about prepping, and several tried-and-tested methods to ground you before any spooky meeting ahead. Fret not. Stay calm. You've got this.
