Preparing for Presentations: My experience speaking at the UN

Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, is so prevalent in the world that Jerry Seinfeld once joked how the average person at a funeral would rather be in the casket than standing before a crowd of mourners giving the eulogy.

 

We all want to stand out and let our voices be heard, but for many people, the inevitable attention that comes with putting on such a spectacle can lead to weak knees and tight throats. This is particularly problematic for someone who wants to pursue a career that comes with authority over others, as it is the duty of supervisors to speak not only to their staff, but also on behalf of their companies.

 

While some choose to simply prepare talking points and hire well-spoken people to act as their representatives, this simply works around the issue, it does not resolve it. While it may be uncomfortable, speaking before a crowd is a skill all leaders should master. Failure to do so could not only weaken the trust and resolve of those in their employ, but it may also cause them to miss valuable opportunities that could greatly contribute to their career.

 

For example, I’m proud to say that I will be speaking at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development eCommerce Week 2019 at the Palace of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

 

This is a momentous occasion, not just for myself or my platform, but for all entrepreneurs in the international trade industry. My own presentation, as well as the roundtable discussions I will be taking part in, will allow experts on small and medium sized businesses to share our concerns and present our solutions for working in this evolving digital economy to the world.

 

Despite being five weeks away from giving birth, there was simply no way I could let a chance like this slip me by. However, I wasn’t about to go unprepared, and I’m referring to more than just my pregnancy.

 

Going to an event to give a presentation is just like pursuing a business venture, it requires careful research and planning in order to be performed properly. That means more than just familiarizing yourself with your topic, you need to know what kind of audience you’ll be presenting that topic to. Knowing who will be listening gives you the opportunity to tailor your talking points and craft your speech to cover what matters to your audience. People who are more familiar with your topic will only be impressed by in-depth details they haven’t heard before, whereas an audience who’s only just learning about your topic will be scared off or bored unless your speech provides them an understanding of the basics or big picture. By ensuring you give value to your audience, you will endear yourself in their mind and establish a strong presence you never could’ve done if you’d stayed home instead.

 

Keeping this in mind will help you prepare for the sort of questions you’ll receive. Knowing what you can answer and what you can say if you don’t have an answer is essential, as being caught off guard by an audience member’s question can leave a negatively impression on the crowd you worked so hard to win over. Speaking of winning people over, you should also research who else will be attending the event. Checking out the list of panelists and browsing social media for announcement posts from attendees is a useful method to build a list of presentations you’ll want to watch as well as people you’ll want to meet, giving you time to prepare business cards and other such networking tools.

 

Of course, meeting experienced people in your field can be just as nerve wracking for some people as speaking in public. If just reading about all this is already making you feel anxious, I want you to close your eyes, take a deep breath, and remind yourself of how much you’ve accomplished already. All the goals you’ve achieved, all the quotas you’ve exceeded, all the progress you and your business have made, was all because you pushed yourself. You wouldn’t be where you are now if you didn’t try, and neither would any of the people you’ll be meeting. All those academics and experts in attendance started off from the same level you did, and they were probably scared too. But they didn’t let that fear hold them back, they pushed forward to get where they are, and they learned a lot along the way. See what you can learn from them while you’re there, study their habits and pay attention to whatever knowledge they share with you.

 

That’s what these events are for, that’s why you made the trip out there, and you’ll want to make sure the trip goes smoothly.

 

As with all trips, you should ready yourself well ahead of time to prevent last minute problems, or at least, be better able to handle last minute problems should they arise. Understand not just what the intention of the event is and your role in fulfilling it, but understand where it’s going to be, what that area is like, and how well you’ll be able to manage there. Looking into hotels and airports is routine enough, but paying attention to local culture and cuisine lets you account for any wardrobe and dietary requirements you may need to meet.

 

As a pregnant woman, this is particularly important.

 

With my bundle of joy so close to making their grand entrance, I have to take careful consideration in keeping my breathing under control and managing my fatigue so I don’t appear weak or unfocused in front of the audience. I’m likely to have jetlag and I certainly won’t be having coffee, so the panels I’m part of are sure to be challenging, but that’s no excuse for passing up such a chance to leave my mark and learn while doing so.

 

Opportunities like these can be few and far between, which is why we must do our best to seize them while we can. Study my strategies, adapt them to suit your strengths, and overcoming your fear of public speaking could become the next accomplishment you pride yourself on.

 

Sweet Tips with Ally:

 

Research both your topic and the people you’ll be presenting it to so you can properly prepare your talking points as well as responses ahead of time.

 

Familiarize yourself with the other panelists at the event as well as the location the event will be held at, allowing yourself time to draft networking strategies in addition to unique travel requirements.

 

Remember that speaking in front of others is a totally achievable goal. The only thing holding you back is yourself, and with the right mindset, you can and will overcome that hurdle.