1
Presentation Skills and Confidence
Adam Sandelson
LSE Student Counselling Service
2
Aims
Look at confidence building measures to giving good presentations
Develop positive self talk Overcome physical anxiety Manage underlying feelings
3
CIRCLE OF CONFIDENCE
situation thoughts feelings behaviour
(self-talk) sensations
Negative Circle
4
CIRCLE OF CONFIDENCE
situation thoughts feelings behaviour
(self-talk) sensations
Positive Circle
5
Confidence for Presentations
Key Principles:
Sensible planning Positive Self talk Role Rehearsal Relaxation/ Stress Management
6
Presentation Planning
Clear simple structure Summarise:
what you’re going to say say it Tell them what you’ve said
Rehearse it out loud First two minutes – repeat practice
7
Developing Positive Self-Talk:
Where/when am I already confident?
What does that confidence feel like?
How is it different from feeling low? How did I build that confidence?
8
Role Rehearsal
What happens when I think about giving a presentation
3 desired ‘goals’ Work out matching behaviours Practice (in front of mirror) Fake it till you make it
9
How is our message received?
Tone & Inflection
38%
Words7%
Body Language
55%
10
Good practice tips
Positive self talk e.g. ‘good enough’ Vary vocal style – 3 P’s
Pace Power Pause Pitch
Less is More Focus on positive listeners
11
Anxiety Management
Anxiety = high level of bodily arousal+
negative self-defeating thoughts
Instead, learn: 1. Physical relaxation 2. Breathing 3. Mini-pause
12
Presentation Dynamics
Pastrelationships
Relationshipwith the
Presentationor talk…
Currentrelationships
13
Underlying dynamics
Trying to please others Wanting to be the best Being a perfectionist Family /historic context for being
successful Setting yourself impossible
targets
14
Keeping perfectionism in check
Set realistic and achievable goals Recognise your achievements Perfectionism is undesirable Experiment with standards for success Focus on the process not just the end result. Evaluate success –
What did you accomplish? Could you enjoy the task?
Imagine looking back – 2 hours/ 2 weeks later
15
Challenging negative thoughts
Imagine them being tested in Court
Identify the negative thought Eg, My presentation will be terrible
Ascertain the evidence For and Against Ask if you are making a ‘thinking error’ Propose a more reasonable alternative
thought
16
Thinking errors
All or nothing thinking Discounting the positive/ tunnel
vision only seeing the negative side of
things Overgeneralizing
because it happened in the past it will happen again in the future
Believing a catastrophe will happen
17
LSE Student Counselling Service – G507
Free and confidential Mainly short term counselling Book appointments in advance Urgent appointments (phone early in the
day) See Website for
Stress management handouts Self help resources on a wide range of student
issues (study – related and personal difficulties) Relaxation MP3’s
18
Final Thoughts
Any questions 1 or 2 things from today What else