What visualization techniques can help you increase self-confidence for online presentations?

Remember: Nobody wants to see you fail. What is that one person, watching from the audience thinking? They're not thinking: I can't wait to see this person bomb 💣 on stage. They're excited to learn more. I put myself in the seat of an audience member and visualize myself giving more and more value to the person who just doesn't know and is here to learn.

In my experience I’ve been invited to speak on a topic I know inside and out. Members of the audience want to hear what I have to say. I just pretend I am talking to a friend that wants to know what the topic is about.

Visualization is a powerful tool to enhance your delivery and drive away your jitters. In an online scenario, imagine the faces of the people on the Zoom/Gmeet screen. Feel the energy or excitement that their expressions would fill you with. Take a few deep breaths, and you are good to go!!

One big thing about visualisation is that irrespective of the occupation or profession, visualisation opens up the creative part of an individual. While some are experts in visualising their future situations, many struggle in the initial days to get the thought process on track. But the good part is, visualisation keeps on improving with practice and plays a major role in boosting confidence and helps in use of apt body language.

Some years ago when I started my career in public speaking I was also very frightened before going to stage. My knees shook and I was pale...then I learned something that has helped me a lot since. Everytime before I enter the stage I visualize the audience applauding frenetically and some single voices giving me tremendous feedback on my performance. And then, this is the important twist, I will a warm shiver of gratitude for the wonderful outcome. Just give it a try on your next speech or public performance!

I was 13 years old, awaiting my turn for the National gymnastics floor competition. My teammates were struggling...they forgot the routine and were messing up. Horrified, I didn't want to mess up either so I started playing out the sequence in my mind. I was visualizing myself executing the routine flawlessly. I didn't even know that was a thing. And I did execute the routine exactly as I did in my mind's eye. Everyone was amazed at my heightened level of gracefulness. I scored high points. The body believes your visualization to be true. It's like doing rehearsals at an optimal level. This skill can be honed to bring out our best performance for public speaking.

Visualization helps your delivery by instilling a sense of self-belief that you got this. During the final speech, you would be more familiar with the environment and surroundings and hence will focus solely on your content and execution of the same. Feel that the audience is enjoying your speech, and it will further boost your confidence due to the positive reinforcement scenario created by you.

I first learned to visualize when I was a competitive figure skater in my youth. We trained the nervous system first in order to feel the execution of the double or triple jump before we actually tried it. Today, I use visualization to see myself have successfully completed the task at hand. Using in my professional speaking career has been very beneficial. I visualize everything from leaving my house to the end of my talk. I see myself in the car on the way to the gig; I see and smell the venue; I see the audience long before I get there. Then I see myself acing it on the stage and then feel the satisfaction afterwards. Visualization is one of the most powerful tools in my toolkit. Always has been.

Visual success in activities like presentations or sports can have a powerful impact on our performance. When we deep dive into visualization, our brains fire up in a similar way as if we were actually engaged in the activity. This repeated mental imagery strengthens neural patterns, which in turn boosts our confidence and prepares us for real-life situations. Essentially, visualization is like a mental practice that helps us excel when facing challenges.

Visualization also means that we see the goal of the presentation clearly. What do we want the audience to say or do after the speaking slot? Clarity of mind on that will bring clarity of speech in delivery.

As a coach, visualization isto be seen as a mental rehearsal. It's not just about conquering those pesky fears and doubts, but also about amplifying the positive vibes - excitement, pride, you name it. It's amazing how envisioning yourself mastering the nuances of voice and body language can truly translate into the real thing. Also it's important to embrace that, hiccups happen - technical glitches, challenging questions. But with visualization, you can mentally prepare for these and handle them with grace. It's all about being in control of your narrative, both mentally and in reality.

In my experience, before delving into the realm of visualization, it is crucial to have absolute clarity about your objectives. Perhaps you aspire to receive a resounding round of applause, an abundance of positive comments in the chatbox, or even just a nod of approval from that one hard-to-impress colleague. Identify that specific aim!

People are wrecked with fear and anxiety before public speaking because they're visualizing themselves forgetting what to say. Their minds going blank. Saying the wrong thing. Making mistakes. Stumbling and looking stupid. If we can visualize these awful things that have never happened, we can also visualize positive things that we WANT to happen. Instead of feeling fear, that helps us to feel excitement and glow with anticipation. Isn't that a more desirable feeling?

This works for me - Be My Cheerleader: After every visualization session, I give myself a pat on the back. Celebrate the little milestones in my mind. "You tackled that tricky part of the presentation?" Great job! It's akin to perfecting a challenging recipe over time.

Here are 3 super techniques: 1. Start with the end in mind (what's the response to be achieved) 2. Know your audience and see the journey you'll take them on (the Hero's journey) 3. Visualize yourself as a shepherd who makes sure none are getting left behind

We often use visualization techniques to support the speaker with getting the sequence of talking points right. Think about the last time you did see a slide presentation and asked 1. Is this a story or a collection of individual slides? 2. Do these slides amplify the messages? 3. Do any slides look like nice wall paper behind the speaker? When I work with getting a speaker ready I give them the choice to skip slides, and get a moderator instead that can sequence their session with questions in fire-side chat format. Most pick this approach over a keynote format.

Whether it's an online or in-person presentation, a job interview or keynote speech, it all starts and ends with your emotions and mindset. Visualising the talk going the way you want it to go helps you relax, and "trick" your mind into feeling more resourceful and confident. The other piece of the puzzle is managing difficult emotions such as anxiety, fears and nervousness before and during the presentation. Use deep breathing techniques, notice your self-talk and reframe it, and make sure to employ the self-compassionate tone of voice towards yourself.