Even the most experienced speaker can feel nervous before giving a presentation. Maybe your heart starts racing, you speak faster than you’d like, or you wonder whether your story is good enough. And no matter how much you want to stay calm, sometimes those nerves seem stronger than you are.

But did you know that nerves aren’t necessarily a bad thing? You don’t have to be completely relaxed to give a compelling presentation. A little tension can actually help you stay sharp and alert. The goal isn’t to make your nerves disappear completely, but to learn how to manage them. Maartje van Wijk, presentation coach at Happy Good Talk, shares five tips to help you stand in front of a group with greater confidence—even when you’re nervous—and bring your audience along with your story.

1. You Don’t Have to Get Rid of Your Nerves

You don’t have to be completely relaxed to give a good presentation. In fact, a healthy level of nervous energy can help you stay alert and bring energy to your story. You’re a little more switched on, so to speak. There’s no need to try to get rid of every nervous feeling straight away. Rather than seeing your nerves as proof that you’re not good at presenting, try seeing them as a sign that you’re about to do something important to you. You don’t have to wait until you feel completely calm before you begin. You can tell a powerful story even when you feel nervous.

2. Find What Works for You—and Don’t Forget to Breathe

There’s no single right way to deal with nerves. Perhaps you like to connect with a few people in the audience beforehand, or maybe you’d rather have a quiet moment to yourself before you begin. Discover what helps you start your presentation feeling focused and present. Maartje adds one simple tip: breathe out! When you’re tense, it can help to pause and pay attention to your breathing, then exhale slowly. There’s no need to turn it into a complicated exercise—do what feels right for you. That’s what works best.

3. Focus on What You’re There to Share

When you’re nervous, you can become overly focused on yourself: Are you coming across well? Can people see your nerves on your face? For Maartje, the answer is simple: remind yourself why you’re standing there. You’ve come to share something.

You have a message, knowledge or an experience you want to share with your audience. So focus on what you want people to take away, rather than constantly judging how you come across. This gives your story direction and helps you connect with the people in front of you. Beforehand, ask yourself: What do I want my audience to remember, understand or do after my presentation? Once you’re clear on that, it becomes easier to keep your attention on your message.

4. Prepare for Confidence, Not Perfection

Good preparation builds confidence. But that doesn’t mean you need to memorise your entire presentation word for word. Trying to remember exactly what you’re supposed to say can make things more stressful if you forget a sentence. Maartje recommends keeping it simple. The easiest way to give yourself something to fall back on is to know three things well: your opening line, your key message and your closing call to action. If you know these three, you’ll have a clear foundation to rely on.

5. Bring Your Audience Along in Your Own Way

Compelling presentations don’t look the same for everyone. Some speakers engage their audience with lots of energy and enthusiasm. Others make an impact through calmness, attention and silence. According to Maartje, the key is to find an approach that suits you. It’s absolutely fine to be a natural performer, as long as that reflects who you are and how you want to speak. You don’t need to hold yourself back—but you don’t have to become an exuberant speaker if that isn’t you. So think not only about what you want to say, but also about how you want to say it. When your presentation style fits your personality and your message, you can be persuasive without having to become someone else.

Less Nerves, More Focus on Your Story

Nerves don’t have to hold you back from giving a presentation. You’re allowed to feel nervous, take a moment to breathe out and discover what works for you. By preparing well, being clear about what you want to share and connecting with your audience in your own way, you can give yourself a stronger sense of confidence. Because compelling presenting isn’t about being perfect or always appearing self-assured. It’s about your story, your audience and the connection between them. At Happy Good Talk, you’ll learn how to tell your story clearly and convincingly, in a way that feels right for you—so you can make an impact without having to become someone else.

Team Happy Good Talk

Want to learn how to present with greater confidence? Discover the presentation training courses offered by Happy Good Talk.