Posted By admin on February 22, 2014

This is the second post in a three-part series focused on helping you alleviate anxiety before giving a presentation.

Many people suffer from fear and anxiety about speaking in front of groups. This tip will ensure your voice quality is high on game day.

Our voice specialist, Cynthia Bassham tells us that we do need a certain amount of mucus around our vocal folds because it acts as a lubricant so that friction is eased. Without it, you will “croak”. What can you do to ensure you have enough lubrication for your voice?

Most important: Stay Hydrated. Because this keeps the mucus moving! Avoid soda. Why? Soda can cause you to hiccup. Best alternatives: Drink water or tea.

Second, avoid dairy. Why? Dairy can thicken the mucous fluid and “gum up” the works. Thick mucus can cause irritation and make you feel the need to clear your throat – not a good thing to do in the middle of a presentation! When we speak of dairy, we are talking about products such as milk, cream, cheese, yogurt and butter. Reduce your use of dairy for three days before your presentation (or longer if you are particularly sensitive to dairy) to make sure your vocal cords are good-to-go for your presentation.

Share your tips for reducing public speaking anxiety by posting a comments. Speaking for impact is not an accident. It’s a skill.

Categories: Speaking Tips
Tags: anxiety, Presentation, presentation skills, Speaking Tips