What strategy can help you manage nerves before a presentation?

Connecting with the audience beforehand is an effective strategy for managing nerves before a presentation because it fosters a sense of familiarity and comfort. Engaging with audience members prior to starting allows you to establish a rapport and make personal connections, which can ease anxiety and build confidence. This connection can make the audience appear more approachable and reduce the feeling of being scrutinized during the presentation.

This approach also provides an opportunity to gauge the audience's reactions, which can help the presenter feel more at ease with their delivery. By transforming an unknown group into familiar faces, the presenter can shift focus from their own nervousness to the interaction and engagement with attendees.

On the other hand, starting the presentation immediately might leave the presenter feeling unprepared and increase anxiety levels, avoiding eye contact can create a sense of detachment and make it difficult for the presenter to engage effectively with the audience, and practicing alone may limit the presenter’s ability to acclimate to the real-time dynamics of presenting in front of a group.