Have you ever been in the middle of a presentation and realized that you can’t breathe? It can be a scary moment. Here are some ideas to help you.
Often the feeling of not being able to breathe comes from anxiety. When you are practicing your presentation or pitch (you are practicing before you do it, right?) take a deep breath before you start speaking and let the air out slowly. Very slowly. Actually, slower than that. Here’s why it works: you have to come back into your body in order to control your breath. That’s a good thing because, not only does it help relax you, but it also keeps the mind focused. You can’t control breathing and freak out at the same time. The other benefit is that, when you do that deep breath and slow release, then begin practicing, your body will remember being relaxed and it will lessen your anxiety when you are actually presenting.
It’s simple, it’s easy, and it’s free. The only thing you need to do is remember to use it. Breathe in deeply, let the air out slowly, let your shoulders drop, and share what you know. It will make you more efficient and, more importantly, it will make you more effective.
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