You May Have PPF And Not Even Know It

Contributed by Elaine Landau

Have you ever named a syndrome? I have. It’s PPF–Paralyzing Presentation Fear. Perhaps you have displayed the most common symptoms.

1. An overwhelming fear of podiums.



2. A palpable phobia to microphones and overhead projectors.



3. The urge to run the three-minute mile when introduced to large groups.



4. Temporary amnesia. Where am I? Who am I? Why did I volunteer to do this?

If any or all of these sound too familiar, you could have full-blown PPF. There is help. The first thing you must do is stop listening to weird advice. My favorite terrible tidbit? Imagine everyone in the audience is wearing their underwear.

What? That’s supposed to make me comfortable? I don’t know about you, but I have worked with a lot of people that I DO NOT want to see in their underwear. Yuck. So now we can add nausea to the list above.

Here’s another piece of advice that really set me back. Practice in a mirror. Why? So I can spot all my imperfections right before standing in front of a bunch of strangers? My hair is too short. Are my eyes different colors? I don’t think my ears match. Oh gosh. I inherited Grandma’s chin. Forget it. The mirror stays in the drawer until after the presentation.

How can you avoid PPF? Avoid people. Never leave your home. Order food in. If you get lonely, there’s always television. Need to challenge your mind? It’s easy today with computers. You don’t have to go anywhere to take a computer class online. With basic computer learning and some very accessible computer education programs, you can earn your degree online, find new hobbies, and chat with chat buddies. And it’s all virtual. How many presentations will you have to give then? Not a lot, I bet.

If total avoidance of other people is not practical, there are probably about a zillion online experts that specialize in phobias. With some basic Internet training you will be able to log on and find out what the latest techniques are to overcome presentation fear.

But I don’t want to just refer you to somebody else. I’d like to pass along some advice that has actually worked for me. Try these and see if you can avoid your next attack of PPF.

1. Memorize your material. Know it back and forth. Be so comfortable with it that you can ad-lib if somebody asks a question from the audience or you lose your rhythm. If you are comfortable, your audience will be, too.



2. Wear a tasteful professional ensemble. Some speakers want to wear an attention-getting glow-in-the-dark outfit. That’s fine, if you want everyone to talk about your clothes after it is all said and done. I’d rather they discuss the merits of the presentation. And make sure your suit is comfortable. Don’t wear new shoes for the first time on stage. Have you ever slipped on a wooden stage with brand-new, slippery-soled shoes? I have. It wasn’t pretty.



3. Drink warm water before you need to speak. Cold beverages, and especially ones with caffeine, can actually make your throat feel strange. And be sure you have enough time between drinking your warm water and your presentation to take a pit stop.



4. Loosen your muscles. All of your muscles need to be shaken out a little, including your jaw muscles. When we are afraid, we tend to tighten up. Ever try to give a speech with lockjaw? Smiling is a great exercise. Treat your face like Play-doh® and see how many expressions you can make. (Don’t try this exercise in line at the DMV. You won’t get your license renewed right away. Trust me on this.)



5. Breathe. Filling your lungs to capacity opens up your rib cage and makes you feel large. Larger than life. Larger than anybody in that audience. You might be five-foot-four, but with all that air and big rib cage, you could take down any one of those people. You’ll get that “don’t mess with me” sensation with every huge breath. Keep breathing.



6. Find your voice. Clear your throat. Yell. Not at somebody, just yippy aloud. Surprise yourself or anyone else who happens to be in the elevator with you at the time.



7. If you wear makeup, do not feel you must apply more for the stage. If you come out of your home and scare small children, go back in, wipe off the goop and start over. A natural look created by a tasteful application of makeup is better under all circumstances.



8. Laugh. Enjoy a good joke or remember a funny incident. It will help you remember not to take everything so seriously.



9. Look at your audience. Don’t allow the spotlight to blind you. If you are looking at them and talking directly to them, you are not alone on stage anymore. You are having a conversation.

Don’t undersell yourself. People are there because they want to hear your presentation. If you try some of these suggestions, you might actually feel good on stage—If not good, maybe just not so cold and clammy. And when it is all done, remember you did it. You did it and you can do it again. And don’t kick yourself if you made any mistakes. That’s what your boss is there for.

Play-doh is a registered trademark of Hasbro, Inc.

About the Author:
Elaine Landau is a freelance writer, publicist, web site editor, and television writer with more than 15 years of experience in marketing, advertising, and publicity.