Smart Agents magazine July 2024

37

Know your stuff. If you have done your research, checked, and rechecked your facts, you know you have the knowledge to deliver the message. Having confidence in what you are about to say will translate into confidently saying it. Prepare, prepare, prepare. Practice your delivery so you know when you want to pause for emphasis and to give you a chance to practice saying a word or phrase that may be difficult to pronounce. Check your equipment. If you are making your first cell phone video to post online, check and make sure your camera is in working order, facing the right way and all systems are ready to go (You don’t want to start off frustrated because of a technical issue, this will only make you more nervous). When you know everything is in order and all you need to do is point and start recording, you give yourself one less thing to worry about. Use the power of visualization. Picture yourself going through every point of your presentation and delivering it just as you intended. Think positively and this will help alleviate any anxiety you may be feeling. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Remember things that seem big to you won’t affect your audience in the same way. Only you know how you pictured the presentation going, so don’t let a small misstep throw you off track. You can always edit the video or do another take! Congratulate yourself! It takes courage to confront your fears and refuse to let them hold you back from advancing your career!

Powered by