My cousin once told me that she was stressed. When I asked her what was stressing her she said, “It’s the little things.” I found that odd. If she got stressed by little things how would she handle major events? Richard Carlson, author of the best selling book, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, seemed to agree. But it turns out we may have been wrong.
Harvard Business Review published an article by Rob Cross and Karen Dillon, entitled, The Hidden Toll of Microstress. What is microstress? It was determined that the “accumulation of small unnoticed events was affecting workers” well being. The researchers called these small continuous pressures “microstresses”. The difference is that stress is identified as big, visible, recognizable challenges and setbacks.
Microstressors are not that easy to notice. We may not be aware at the time that we are experiencing stress and may not have the language to describe the experiences..
The thought of giving a speech can be a major stress for many people. But what about those little things surrounding the talk that can act as a microstressor?
You may feel confident and prepared until these microstressors take you off your game.
Here are five microstressors that can gnaw away at your confidence and prevent you from giving a Knockout Presentation.
Technical Issues: The microphone may start cutting out, the slides may freeze, or the computer sound starts malfunctioning. Even with a rehearsal these things can happen.
Challenging Environment: The room may be too cold or too hot without the ability to adjust the temperature. The acoustics may be poor or the lighting may be inadequate. The cafeteria may be in another building meaning, the group could return late. The room is too small to accommodate the size of the group.
Uncooperative Audience: Audience members may be resistant or disengaged. They look at their phones or leave the room. You may notice side- talking. They don’t laugh at your jokes.
Time Pressures: You may be told that you have to cut the presentation short, or you may realize that you’re near the end and you only covered half of the material. Sometimes, time pressures are due to an executive who kicks off the meeting and usurps 20-30 minutes of your opening.
Last Minute Changes: Attendance may be sparse and you now have to modify the presentation without enough time. Right before the presentation the meeting planner may want you to cover a different topic.
Even the most experienced and confident presenters can encounter these microstressors.
Some are beyond the control of the speaker. Be aware and prepare. Stay focused on your message and purpose. Be flexible. When presented with a challenge I usually say, “We’ll make it work.” Take a deep breath and throw perfection out the window. LIfe is too short to “sweat the small stuff.”
To learn how to Speak Confidently and Effectively check out my LinkedIn learning course. It ranked in the Top 20 Most Popular courses for 2 years.
To learn techniques to overcome fear of speaking, read Chapter 3 of Knockout Presentations.
To work with me contact DiResta Communications, Inc.