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- Practice proper breathing
- Do relaxation exercises before you begin the presentation.
- Remember your passion - what makes this topic tick for you?
- Make eye contact. You're talking to people, not the wall or the carpeting.
- Keep a sense of humor
- Work in a personal story related to your topic. This personalizes what you have to say and puts you more at ease.
- Remember – you're the expert: you've been asked to speak because you know your topic.
- Dress appropriately.
- Practice, practice, practice until you are comfortable with your material.
- Pack whatever materials you need the night before, and get a good night's sleep.
- Hydrate - keep water nearby to keep throat moist.
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- Move around with no purpose - moving too much scatters your focus and energy.
- Stand too stiffly or move arms too much - you're neither dead nor are you a windmill.
- Close off your throat (or breathe too shallowly).
- Think you can “wing it.”
- Skip a meal beforehand.
- Be late - leave enough time to get focused and relaxed.
- Forget that you know your stuff - your audience wants to hear what you have to say.
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