Calm Your Nerves Through the Power of Generosity
At Zum, we are keenly interested in any information about presentations and public speaking.
We recently came across an article by Sarah Gershman, titled “To Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking, Stop Thinking About Yourself” and we were immediately intrigued by her research concluding that generosity can reduce anxiety. How is it that practicing generosity can increase your confidence as a speaker?
Gershman indicates that the fear of public speaking triggers our amygdala, the part of our brain that responds with fight-or-flight mode, and that the anxiety many speakers experience on stage is ingrained in our DNA. To counteract the fear of being watched, there is a solution based on research to calm the amygdala through human generosity. We can train our minds to turn the focus away from ourselves and towards the audience, which has been proven to activate the vagus nerve and calm the brain.
Gershman provides three steps for presenters to practice generosity and reduce anxiety. We have quickly summarized them here:
1. Preparation: THINK ABOUT YOUR AUDIENCE
Identify the "Who?", "Why?", and "What?".
Create a message that addresses the audience's needs.
WHY IT WORKS
Instead of getting caught up in the details, preparation in this way breaks down the wall between you and your audience.
2. Before: REFOCUS YOUR BRAIN
Remind yourself that your presentation is not about you, it's about helping your audience.
WHY IT WORKS
Focusing your attention away from your fear of judgement or fear of failure, and instead focusing on your audience, will help you become less nervous.
3. During: MAKE EYE CONTACT
Keep eye contact and connect with one individual per thought. Also, take the time to focus on individuals at the edges of the room.
WHY IT WORKS
When practiced often, direct eye contact will reduce anxiety because it feels more comfortable to have a series of one-on-one conversations than it is to scan the room.
“We know the power of generosity to give us a sense of fulfillment, purpose, and meaning. Generosity is just as powerful in speaking” (Gershman).
For more information about the science behind generosity, and to review the steps in depth, we recommend reading Gershman’s article in the Harvard Business Review.