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3 Unorthodox ways to calm your nerves before a speech


You are about to give the speech of a lifetime, in front of an audience of 300.

Well, more like 13, but it feels like 300, and it's only an ice-breaker; yet heavy perspiration and heart-pounding suddenly occurs. For pride and integrity, you won't cower from fear; but if you vomit, do pride and integrity matter anyway.

Under pressure, you forget that even professionals, including political figures and CEO's, suffer breakdowns before performing. Your heavy perspiration and heart-pounding, therefore, are not specific to newbies.

Within our club's supportive community, members seasoned and novice use an arsenal of weapons to combat nervousness before speaking. Today, they share three of the most unorthodox yet effective methods with you.

1. Fake it til' you make it.

With frequency the phrase "fake it til' you make it" bounce around our meetings like a ball in a game of squash; and if you ask knowledgeable peers like John Harquist (AS) and Jim Sultan (DTM), they will offer similar advice.

Practical applications of "fake it til' you make it" vary, and include "power posing," popularized by Harvard Professor Amy Cuddy in her bestseller Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self To Your Biggest Challenges (find it here), and "wearing an extroverted hat," introduced by Harvard J.D and self-proclaimed introvert Susan Cane in her book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking (find it here). 

A more operative--and certainly unorthodox--practice is to briefly adopt a cool and collected alter ego, exercised by current VP-PR Nan Nan Liu by donning a pair of "smart girl glasses." Neither needing vision correction nor weighing heavily on appearance, Liu wears plastic dollar-store glasses simply because they boost her confidence by temporarily turning her, in subjective view, into a sharper individual.


2. Take a cold shower.

Liu also recommends taking a cold shower before speaking, if time allows, because it keeps her alert. According to Medical Daily, freezing cold water shocks the body, increases oxygen intake and heart rate, and releases a rush of blood that provides natural energy. (Source: Benefits of Cold Showers)

"Confidence Builders meet in the evenings and most members are tired by then. Exhausted speakers may suffer extra anxiety and lose focus. A cold shower stimulates alertness."

"Of course it is painful," Liu adds,"and no, screaming doesn't help. But it certainly perks a person up."


3. Breath deep.

Deep breathing isn't an uncommon stress reliever; but it seems to be uncommonly practiced, as many ice-breaker speakers ramble on spurts of breaths. Hence the recommendation below by fellow member Aparna Chellappan (CC).

"Just before going to speak...remember to breath, (because our mouths) may go a bit dry as the speech progresses, and breathing is not only calming but also helps us remember the speech."

Adopting suitable techniques depends on individual needs and personalities; and though we can't stop your forehead from perspiring or your heart from pounding, we do hope to have offered useful suggestions. We also hope to see you back at our blog--and perhaps a future meeting--soon.

Good night!


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