When giving a presentation, if you’re like most people, you’re going to be feeling exposed until you can get away to the bar once it’s all over.  You’re going to feel like you’re on trial.  And, of course, despite the fact that your audience does want you to succeed, success is still yours to lose.

So you’re nervous for a good reason.  You are on trial.  Don’t expect it to feel great until it’s over. 

All the more reason, then, to be very careful about the emotional story that you’re telling.  Because your body is going to be ready to give you away time and again.  Your body is perfectly happy to radiate nervousness, discomfort, and a compelling desire to flee for the exit.  But none of that supports your content very well, unless you’re giving a speech about terror. 

For most people, talking about a business goal, or an idea for a new direction to take the organization in, or a report on how the last quarter went, their emotional relationship to the content is a mixed one.  But it’s precisely that mixed message – some belief, some skepticism, some terror – that you probably don’t want to convey to the audience. 

When you’re preparing to give your speech, then, find a compelling emotional truth that the speech embodies and spend some time focusing on that.  You need a strong one to overcome the natural tendency for nerves.  Is it hope, or excitement, or triumph, or anger, or -- ?  You decide.  But make it a good one, be clear about it, and spend time in the day and minutes before your presentation thinking hard about that emotion.  What does it feel like?  What does it smell, taste, sound, and look like when you last experienced that emotion strongly?  Put yourself into that sense memory and it will bring the emotion alive. 

Then, when you are focused, go out and give the speech.  You will find that you are better able to connect with your material and with your audience, because you are grounded in an emotional truth.  Your mixed messages will fade away, and you will radiate charisma and success.  And you can still head to the bar when it’s over.