Are you bringing something or picking something up?

Are you bringing something or are you picking something up? 🤔

The answer to this question will affect how you approach a presentation – and whether you speak with confidence, or with nerves.

What happens when you come to pick up?

When you come to get something, you often approach presenting from thoughts of fear, such as:

* What does the audience think of me?

* Am I doing it well enough?

* Can I even do this?

These questions activate your stress response. ⚡ Your brain looks for what could go wrong, which creates more nerves, doubt and a greater risk of getting stuck.

But what if you turn that mindset around?

Ask yourself: What am I bringing?

How can you help, inspire or give your audience something valuable? By doing this, you activate a different part of your brain, namely the area that revolves around connection and empathy. Your focus shifts from yourself to your audience, allowing nerves to make way for clarity and purpose. 💡

How can you bring value?

Here are some examples:

* For manages or directors: “How can my story help save costs or increase revenue?” 📈

* For a team: "How can I contribute to more happiness, convenience or cooperation?" 🤝

* For an organisation: "How can I improve vitality or job satisfaction?" 🌱

Take my friend Milco Kwant for example. When he recently pitched his idea to make employees healthier, more resilient and stronger at the Center Parcs headquarters in Paris, he asked himself the question: "How can I really bring something valuable to my audience?" That gave him focus and a convincing appearance.

So, are you feeling the nerves coming on?

Then turn the focus around. Stop worrying about what others think of you and focus on what you can bring. Make the time your audience spends listening to you a little more fun, inspiring and valuable.

Do you want to learn how to let go of your nerves and present with confidence?