Credit goes to fellow 919Insider Laura Poole for the idea for this blog, from her great discussion on Professionally Speaking: 6 Keys to Better Presentations (Part 1) – I’m looking forward to Part 2!

“Oh, I’ll be fine; don’t worry about it! I’ve presented to rooms of ___ people with no problem…”

Over the years – through my corporate career and beyond – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this when approaching someone about prepping for a presentation on camera! It’s funny; this is regardless of position, age, or whether they were a PhD, MD, or growing crops out in the fields (actually, the growers – when I worked with Cargill – were typically much more realistic when I needed them for video, admitting they would probably get nervous and need some practice).

Guess what? Almost every single time, that person who would say the statement above to me would end up thoroughly surprised about how different it actually was when that red light went on and the camera(s) started rolling! Some of the most versed, brilliant, and outgoing people I knew would begin to sweat, stutter, and bumble through what they needed to say, when just moments before, they’d been confident that it would be no big deal.

Here’s the follow up statement I would almost inevitably get from the same person who would make the statement above: “Wow, I can’t believe how DIFFERENT that was! I don’t know why that felt so different – how weird! That light went on and I felt like a bumbling idiot!”

For some reason, that little red light can be more distracting and unnerving than a room of 100 people; this happens regardless of format – interview, structured, discussion/forum, or individual speech; out “in the field,” in a closed studio, or even front of a studio audience.

So, why does this happen?

To put it simply, we psych ourselves out! A large part of it has to do with almost subconscious self reflection – when you’re in front of 100 people, you typically don’t have to look at yourself, and watch your own idiosyncrasies. Who’s our biggest critic? Ourselves, of course! So, when the camera rolls, in the back of your head, that critic inevitably raises its ugly voice and says,

“Oh, GOD! I HATE the way I look on camera! it’s going to make me look so pale/shiny/fat/gaunt/dorky/…; is my hair out of place? Does this color look good on me? I’ve always THOUGHT it did! Am I going to look like I know what I’m talking about? What if I lose my train of thought, and make a mistake – then it’s on record for the world to see!”

With video becoming more prominent as a standard communication medium today, getting in front of the camera will inevitably be a necessity at some point for most business owners who need to interface with their target market(s) – which I think will end up being almost everyone. And really, take it from me – since I’ve had to use video as part of the marketing and PR mix for more than 20 years – regardless of how many times you’ve been in front of a room or even a stadium of people, it is different when the camera’s rolling!

So, when that situation arises, here are some simple tips that should smooth out the bumps the first few times out of the gate:

• Don’t simply be prepared; really know exactly what you’re supposed to discuss/present! Be able to do the whole thing on auto-pilot: This way, if you do still freeze up a little, your brain won’t, and you won’t lose your content (which would in turn stress you out even more).

• Engage your emotions. There’s nothing worse than watching a robot – and with such an ADD society today, it’s even worse when it’s on video. If you don’t engage your passion and emotions on your topic, you will lose your audience in less than 10 seconds.

• Practice in front of a mirror or on home video beforehand. If you know what you look like while you’re in the spotlight, you can correct any physical idiosyncrasies to your liking beforehand – so you can quiet that nasty critic in your head before it starts and instead replace it with the voice that simply reminds you of what you want to do to make the best of yourself.

• Pretend you’re having a conversation with someone (in situations when you’re alone and looking into the camera). One of the hardest psychological aspects of filming – especially in a closed studio with no audience – is that you can’t “read” the faces of your audience to see how you’re doing. Even if we don’t realize it consciously, what often helps us relax in front of an audience is when we look out and make eye contact with someone who’s nodding in approval, smiling, and/or intently listening. When you’re speaking to a camera, it can feel like you’re in a black hole. Visualizing someone having a conversation with you over coffee can make it easier, and make you seem more relaxed.

• Don’t overfill your schedule on the day(s) of production. Rushed = tense. If you have to run from a slew of meetings to “squeeze in” the video production, many things can happen to get you stressed before you even get there, from spilling a drink on yourself and staining your clothes to spoiling your mood and taking your focus off of the situation at hand. It will show up on camera!

• Make sure the shoe fits. Unless there’s a costume required for filming, wear clothing that complements you color-wise and fits you well. If you’re standing, make sure the shoes you wear are comfortable. It’s not a good time to wear shoes that are brand new and not broken in, and to women – no spike heels! If you wear something that’s too tight and/or uncomfortable, you will definitely be able to tell on camera, and you will come across as pinched.

• Breathe… and hydrate. If you feel yourself starting to trip over your words, take a moment and take several deep breaths from the heart and diaphragm. Make sure there’s water available (preferably room temperature or slightly warmer, with lemon), to help avoid your throat getting dry – so you don’t have to clear your throat a lot.

• Remember the BEST part about video – that it can be edited!!! Except in rare, live situations, if you make a mistake, SO WHAT? You can shoot it again… and again… and again, until you get it right.

Practice these simple tips so you’ll be able to keep your confidence and breeze through your video presentation. Remember, you’re the expert here – if you weren’t, you wouldn’t be in this situation. You know what you’re doing, so let others benefit from your knowledge, and let yourself shine!

Have you had a surprisingly stressful or nightmarish video experience? Tell us about it, so everyone knows they’re not alone!!!

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