Does this picture convey what you feel when you have to do some kind of presentation? Do you experience anxiety, as 95% of people do?
The competition for listings has never been higher. Agents are competing for those listings—and against each other. For those of us speakers/presenters/trainers, the training and expectations for excellence have never been higher. These situations can lead to high anxiety.
If you’ve never experienced your mind in ‘white noise’, you probably have never been in a ‘need to perform well’ situation. If you have experienced that feeling of high pressure, you know how debilitating it can be.
Who this is for. If you’re an agent who presents listing and buyer presentations, if you’re a manager giving a presentation, if you’re a trainer on the line to be awesome—you’ll find the three points below invaluable.
Reflections from a Life-Long Musician—In High-Pressure Situations from age 4
Because I started tickling the ivories at age four, I have been in many high pressure situations. I have great empathy for real estate agents, managers, and trainers because we all face these challenges. We want to be great, but sometimes our mind and emotions seem to work hard against us! The tips below are tips I learned, first as a pianist and flutist, and then as an international trainer.
The Three Tips to Perform at a High Level—with Low Anxiety
1. Practice your heart out. Practice takes the unexpected out of your performance. What I learned as a pianist and flutist, too, is to practice perfectly. Don’t settle for mediocrity.
But, you can’t just practice. You need a solid process to follow. For example, if you are going to do a persuasive presentation, follow the persuasive presentation model (the ABA model I teach in Train the Trainer 2.0). With processes and models, you won’t get lost, because you’ll know the ‘big picture’ and framework.
2. Gain a clear picture of your success. When we get anxious, we lose focus and control over our thoughts. Instead, picture how your audience will smile at you, applaud wholeheartedly, and compliment you after your performance.
Quick question: How many times do you beat yourself up after you make a mistake? 20? 30? To get rid of that picture, shrink it—both the visual and the sound. Then, run that positive picture that you made (above) 20 times. Now, your mind will be visualizing the best results—not the worst. Try this now. It’s fun, and it works.
3. Think of your state of mind as excitement, instead of anxiety.
Yes, you will have a bit of anxiety. However, when you think of the excitement of helping people, of sharing your unique talents, of making them feel better because of your presentation, you can replace that anxiety with excitement to contribute—to hemp—to inspire—to change people’s lives.
Here’s your inner dialogue. “I can do this. I have practiced. I am capable. I am here to inspire, help, and inform, I can change people’s lives.” Now you’re empowered, not defensive. You’re bringing forward your best self.
But….
I can hear you now. You can’t think of those positive things when you feel so overwhelmed. However, you ARE really good at thinking of the worst outcomes–over and over. So, you do already have an active imagination!
OK. Start with pretending—like you did as a kid. Pretend you see and hear positive results. Pretend you have provided an invaluable gift to your audience. Afterwhile, you will find your imagination goes from pretend to belief.
Bottom line: To become an exceptional presenter, performer, or trainer, how you frame your state of mind lets you put your best self in front of those you want to positively influence.
