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THE BUSH VIPER

As a speaking event approaches, many people imagine everything that might derail them, from their PowerPoint failing or difficult attendees to not being prepared or losing their voice. Most of these fears are phantoms and, like bush vipers, are scary but not poisonous.

 

This condition, called anticipatory anxiety, is activated by a speaker’s inability to predict the outcome or potential threats connected to an upcoming talk. Anticipatory anxiety shows up as chest pain, hyperventilation, muscle spasms, difficulty concentrating, and extreme feelings of apprehension. It’s like believing a giant beast will attack you, or a life-threatening disaster is imminent. But this condition can be managed and brought to heel.

 

First, walk yourself through the potential challenges and rehearse  how you would respond. Second, anxiety produces constriction,  so breathe deeply. Concentrating on the breath offsets hypoxia,  in which a lack of oxygen to the brain can make a speaker blank out.

 

Redirect your attention to things you do well, like tennis, parenting, or operating your business. Then identify where the anxiety resides—in your gut, lungs, or head—and make friends with it. Finally, visualize success, anticipating the joy of delivering well, and the viper will slink away.

 

THE CONFIDENCE GAME

In 2014, comic and actor Robin Williams committed suicide. The news media reported that it was caused by depression, substance abuse, and a career downturn. But Williams had diffuse Lewy body dementia, a rare and degenerative disease that ravages the body and brain. Unfortunately, there is no treatment or cure for this horrific condition. Williams’s widow, Susan, said that as the disease progressed, he lost confidence in himself and his talent. It kept Williams off the stage and away from his best friends.

But prior to the onset of dementia, what sustained Williams was his unshakable confidence. This is gold for those of us who speak to audiences and regularly deal with our own insecurities, doubts, and reticence.

 

Take a page from Williams’s playbook and convince yourself that what you have to say is more important than your fear.  And when you stumble or forget what you want to say, acknowledge  that it happens to everyone. Just keep moving forward and stay connected to your audience. Critiques and evaluations are valuable only after your talk or presentation. Confidence is a skill we can learn, is reinforced by success, and is ours to own.